








Patrol Division
The Patrol division is composed of uniform officers who answer calls for service, to detect and defer crime.
The Patrol Division provides 24 hour coverage and is divided into four units -- two day shifts and two night shifts.
The Patrol Division answers an average of 3000 calls a month.
This includes some officer initiated activities.

Criminal Investigations Division
The Florence Police Department Criminal Investigation Division is comprised of detectives that specialize and investigate Property Crimes, Financial Crimes, Crimes Against Children, Domestic Violence, and Person’s Crimes. Our division is comprised of thirteen detectives, including supervision. These detectives investigate approximately 1800 criminal cases reported in the City of Florence each year. In addition to their caseloads, detectives manage and process all major felony crime scenes.

Community Oriented Problem Solvers (COPS)
The Florence Police COPS Unit is a proactive, problem solving unit. Rather than responding to crime after it occurs, the COPS Unit uses community policing to develop solutions to the immediate underlying conditions contributing to public safety problems. Officers utilize Social Media to seek out assistance from the public and educate on how to prevent crime in and around their area. Officers also develop personal relationships within the community to assist in prioritizing local problems, thus improving the quality of life in their neighborhoods.

Hazardous Devices Unit
The Hazardous Devices Unit, also known as the bomb squad, investigates, detects, transports and disarms explosive devices and objects suspected to be explosive.
Bomb Technicians have extensive training in this field.

Special Operations Unit (SWAT)
The Special Operations Team, also known as SWAT, is a unit of officers highly trained in various weaponry and tactics. SWAT is used in high risk situations where the potential for danger is great. Common situationswhere SWAT is needed are hostage situations, barricaded persons, and high-risk warrant service.

Through the well trained team concept, combined with special weapons and tactics, the goal of SWAT is to apprehend dangerous persons without
death or injuries to all parties involved. SWAT officers receive extensive training above that of other police officers and ongoing training 4 times per month.
One piece of SWAT equipment that is recognizable to the public are the hoods that SWAT members are often seen wearing. These hoods, or balaclava, are not to conceal the officers' identity, but is protection for the officers face and neck from tear gas which is frequently used. There is also a benefit of intimidation to the offenders to urge surrender.

K-9 Unit
The Florence Police Department has had a continuous K-9 Unit since 1982. It currently consists of four dual purpose dog/handler teams. They are certified by the United States Police Canine Association in both patrol work and narcotic detection. Our K-9 teams also provide assistance to officers by tracking wanted or missing persons.
The K-9 Unit conducts demonstrations for schools and civic organizations to showcase their abilities and to help educate, deter and prevent drug use. Officers who volunteer to be a K-9 handler train regularly and care for the dogs themselves.

Bike Patrol

Mounted Patrol
The Mounted Unit consists of four specially trained horses and six officers.
The Mounted Officers work special events, such as the W.C Handy Festival, First Fridays, and parking lot patrols during holiday seasons.
The Mounted Unit provides a deterrent to crime and disorderly persons from their elevated mounts, enabling officers to see over crowds and parked cars.
These horses and riders are specially trained for the rare occasion of having to disburse large crowds safely.
School Resource Officers (SRO)
School Resource Officers (SRO) are police officers who are assigned to Florence City Schools on a full time basis. This program was first established in 1992 to implement our 3 main goals:
1) Create a safe learning environment
2) Break down barriers between police and youth
3) Provide positive role models to the future leaders of our community
Records Division
The Records Division is responsible for maintaining, disseminating and archiving all official police reports. Records personnel also process local background checks, subpoenas, expungements and other information requests.
In 1996, the Florence Police Department Records Division began transitioning from manually filing and searching for reports to computerizing all records. However, it was not until 2015 that Florence Police Officers began creating digital reports. Today, the Records Division uses electronic reporting and the National Incident Based Reporting System standards to submit crime statistics to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Officers and Records also work with the the State of Alabama's E-Crash system to develop and ensure the accuracy of wreck reports.

Communications Division
The Communication Division is the back bone of the Florence police department, specifically the patrol division. Our dispatchers receive calls of service for FPD, UNA PD, and Animal Services.
Communications Dispatchers provide computer searches for wanted fugitives, stolen property, and information through the National Crime Information Center and Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center.
Dispatchers also enter missing and wanted persons, stolen property and bulletins into the computer information systems.
Communications Dispatchers conduct all computer searches requested by officers concerning driver's license, vehicle registration, and criminal histories.

Police Ranger Program
The Police Ranger Program was designed to allow youth from ages 16 to 21, who are interested in law enforcement, to work with officers in a limited capacity. The Rangers ride with police officers on patrol, assist with traffic control on special events, and gain experience in the various aspects of police work.
Citizen Volunteer Program
The citizen volunteer program utilizes volunteers to staff departmental programs and reduce officer paperwork to allow more patrol time. The volunteers publish a quarterly newsletter to inform the public about the Florence Police Department, and is distributed in the Courier Journal, a community newspaper. The volunteers enter data from officer reports, business information, and various other data into the computer system.
Police Department Contact Details
(256)760-6500
702 S. Seminary St. Florence, AL 35630
Monday- Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM