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Patrol Division
Patrol
Patrol is the largest division within the Kennewick Police Department. Patrol is responsible for providing the majority of services to the citizens and visitors of Kennewick. Patrol provides services twenty four hours a day, seven days a week three hundred sixty five days a year. The division has four, twelve officer squads made up of two supervisors and ten officers. In addition, each squad has officers who receive special training related to Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) operations, media relations and gang intelligence. There is also a seven officer Traffic Unit that provides education and enforcement services related to vehicle, pedestrian and school zone safety.
K-9
The Kennewick Police Department has two police K9 teams each serving a specific function for the agency. Officer Whitney and his partner Ivan are a traditional patrol apprehension K9 Team. Their primary function is to support all operations where criminal apprehension is required. Using dogs enhanced senses they track and locate fleeing suspects, locate evidence and provide enhancements to officer safety. Officer Merkl and his partner Bear are trained to sniff out illegal narcotics and articles associated with trafficking and use of illegal narcotics.
Traffic
The goals of the unit are traffic enforcement and traffic education. Traffic enforcement duties include writing traffic citations, DUI enforcement, traffic emphasis and collision investigation. The unit also assist the community's needs for greater traffic safety education by participating in the "Every 15 Minute Program" a program presented to high school seniors emphasizing, on an average, every 32 minutes someone dies in an alcohol related collision; elementary school crossing guard training; and driver awareness education.
Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT)
The Kennewick Police Department is a part of the Tri-City Regional SWAT Team. The team is made up of 24 law enforcement officers. The Kennewick Police has 6 SWAT officers and 2 Hostage Negotiators currently assigned to the Team.
The Team trains for response to everything from Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) threats, suicidal subjects, hostage situations, dignitary protection, and high risk warrant service. The Team trains twice a month. Due to the high level of training, the SWAT team has a 95% success rate of solving the situation without injury to persons or destruction of property. In 2011 the SWAT team conducted 24 missions.
The Tri-City Regional SWAT Team is made up of officers from Kennewick, Pasco and Richland Police Departments and Benton County Sheriff's Department. The Tri-City Regional SWAT Team is committed to providing the best possible training and equipment in a coordinated effort to keep our citizens and officers safe.
The Kennewick Police Department is a part of the Tri-City Regional SWAT Team. The team is made up of 24 law enforcement officers. The Kennewick Police has 6 SWAT officers and 2 Hostage Negotiators currently assigned to the Team.
Training
The Team trains for response to everything from Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) threats, suicidal subjects, hostage situations, dignitary protection, and high risk warrant service. The Team trains twice a month. Due to the high level of training, the SWAT team has a 95% success rate of solving the situation without injury to persons or destruction of property. In 2011 the SWAT team conducted 24 missions.
Staff
The Tri-City Regional SWAT Team is made up of officers from Kennewick, Pasco and Richland Police Departments and Benton County Sheriff's Department. The Tri-City Regional SWAT Team is committed to providing the best possible training and equipment in a coordinated effort to keep our citizens and officers safe.