Support Services Bureau

Support Services Lieutenant

The Support Services Lieutenant oversees the entire Support Services Bureau, which includes the Training Office, Warrants Section, Community Policing Office, Special Projects and the Downtown Officer. In addition, the Lieutenant is largely responsible for testing and hiring new police officer applicants. This includes performing extensive background checks, interviews, physical ability testing, administering written exams and other testing as required. If you would like further information on the hiring process, please view the hiring information page.

Training Office Sergeant

The Training Office Sergeant is responsible for maintaining and updating training files for each officer on the department. In addition, the Training Sergeant coordinates training sessions and ensures that annual certifications (CPR, firearms, Intoxilizer, etc) are maintained. Additional duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting officers with maintaining instructor certifications per Montana POST Council requirements;
• Coordinates and oversees the FTO program;
• Implement new programs and training that departmental needs dictate;
• Supervise the officers assigned to the Warrants Office and the Housing Authority;
• Review written reports and other written documentation submitted by those under his/her supervision.

Warrants Officer

The Warrants Officer is primarily responsible for contacting citizens who have outstanding warrants and making arrests on those warrants. The warrants officer also co-ordinates with other agencies to set up warrant round-up projects. In addition, the warrants officer serves as the bailiff for Municipal Court on a daily basis and performs prisoner transfers as needed. Prisoner transfers can be local or statewide. Listed below are some of the duties of the warrants officer:

• Serve as bailiff for Municipal Court on a daily basis;
• Performs prisoner transfers as needed;
• Contacts citizens with outstanding warrants and makes arrests as needed;
• Assists with setting up warrant round up projects;
• Prepares written reports as required.

Housing Authority Officers

Currently, we have two officers assigned to the Great Falls Housing Authority. These officers work closely with residents in five subsidized housing areas within the city and address problems, concerns, and criminal complaints in these areas. The Housing Authority officers investigate criminal, drug, and traffic complaints within the five housing areas. The officers attend meetings with Housing Authority staff and residents as needed. Listed below are some of the duties of the Housing Authority officers:

• Investigate criminal, drug, and traffic complaints;
• Attend administrative hearings for evictions and provides input as needed;
• Perform background checks for applicants to the subsidized housing areas;
• Maintain a good working relationship with Housing Authority staff and residents;
• Gather and analyze statistical data to look at crime trends and work on developing programs that reduce the crime rates;
• Perform follow-up investigations as needed;
• Prepare written reports and other documentation as required.

The Housing Authority officers can be reached at (406) 453-4311.

Community Policing Sergeant

The Community Police Sergeant is responsible for supervising the officers assigned to Special Projects and Downtown areas. The Sergeant is also the department Public Information Officer and is the media liaison for the agency. The responsibilities of the PIO include conducting daily media briefings and coordinating dissemination of information to the media at major events. Additional duties include, but are not limited to:

• Implement community policing programs within the department and the community.
• Provide presentations to the community when requested or as part of a pro-active emphasis for topics such as robbery prevention, shoplifting prevention, school safety presentations, neighborhood watch, etc.
• Works closely with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program coordinator, as well as the Neighborhood Watch and Neighborhood Council coordinators.
• Administers and oversees the Volunteer in Police Services (VIPS) program.
• Works closely with other City of Great Falls staff to address problem areas or concerns.
• Reviews written reports and other written documentation submitted by officers under his/her supervision.

Special Projects

Special Projects is an innovative community policing office which uses a proactive approach to solving problems within the community. Currently, there are two officers assigned to this office. One of the main duties is for officers to host, teach, and oversee the Citizens’ Academy. The purpose of the Academy is to promote and enhance citizen understanding and awareness of the role of the Great Falls Police Department. The program is designed to develop positive relations between the police and the community through education. The Academy occurs twice a year and allows up to 30 students in each class. Listed below are some of the duties of the Special Projects officers:

• Organize, oversee, and teach the Citizens’ Academy
• Use forensic video techniques to enhance and clarify surveillance video to assist in crime solving
• Give crime prevention/safety presentations as requested
• Attend Neighborhood Council meetings and address problems/concerns that are brought up
• Work with citizens to solve issues regarding problem houses throughout the community
• Work with citizens to establish Neighborhood Watch groups
• Prepare the weekly Cops Corner article for the local paper