Police Department

The Vernon Police Department consists of 59 sworn and 25 civilian men and women dedicated to providing outstanding law enforcement services. The Department is lead by Chief Steve Towles. His administrative staff consists of Captain James Rodino, and the Service's Commander Lieutenant Dan Calleros.

The Patrol Division has 33 officers assigned to two 12-hour shifts. The department is proud of its average response time of less than four minutes for emergency calls for service. There is one lieutenant and three sergeants who are active on each shift. Each patrol car has state of the art equipment. Mobile computer terminals using advanced wireless technology allow officers to communicate with the station, other officers, and complete reports in the field. The reports can be transmitted to the station supervisor for review and processing. Additionally, the mobile computer terminals can query State and national criminal databases. Patrol Officers also use night vision binoculars as well as handheld and vehicle mounted Thermal Imaging Devices. Crime scenes are captured on digital cameras and video recorders.

The department actively uses the Community Oriented Policing model to provide services to the businesses and the public. Specialized details such as the bicycle units are an important element of the Community Oriented Policing. Officers are trained to handle offenses unique to a commercial/industrial based community.

Vernon Service Officers assigned to the Patrol Division handle parking enforcement, jail and booking functions at the department's 19 bed Type I jail facility.

The department's Industrial Relations Division serves as a liaison between the businesses and the police department. The department commits one lieutenant and two sergeants to the Industrial Relations Division. These supervisors are experts in the areas of crime prevention and labor disputes.

The Services Division consists of a full service Detective Bureau with one lieutenant, a sergeant and four detectives. The detectives conduct all follow up investigations. The Vernon Police Department handles all its own cases and does not surrender major cases to the county. The department has three investigators and a supervisor assigned to regional multi-agency taskforces; TRAP (auto theft), LA IMPACT (narcotic) and CTIP (cargo theft). The commitment of five in-house investigators as well as the three taskforce investigators demonstrates the City's commitment to provide in depth law enforcement to the businesses and public.

The recently upgraded Communication Center is a model for other agencies. The Computer Aided Dispatch system is fully integrated with the mobile computer, the records management and the E911 systems. In addition to answering all E911 emergency calls for service, the communication center dispatches Vernon Fire Department units.

A Records Manager and assistant Records Manager work together with five clerks to process reports and fulfill requests from the public. The Records and Patrol Division use software to electronically write, process and distribute reports, thereby increasing the efficiency and providing a greater level of service.

The Department's commitment to the business community is evident by its level of response, training, use of cutting edge technology and personnel resources devoted to addressing the unique requirements of an "exclusively industrial" city.