On the job

When it comes to local law enforcement, not every officer serves the same role. Even from one department to the next, certain roles or titles can carry with them different duties or responsibilities. Broadly, however, here are the different officers one might expect to find serving Franklin County.

•PATROL OFFICERS

Patrol officers represent a proactive facet of law enforcement, patrolling their cities, neighborhoods and businesses with a wary eye to catch criminals in their tracks. A patrol officer might, while in the course of duty, prevent a burglary by spotting a breakin in progress or ensure safe traffic conditions by stopping reckless drivers. They will also usually the first to respond to a scene in answer to a 911 call or other call for assistance, whether that’s to look into a domestic dispute, missing person or even something as seemingly small as an unleashed dog loose in the city or a city ordinance violation.

•INVESTIGATORS

Police investigators are on deck when a crime has been committed. Investigators will work to locate suspects, take witness statements and aid victims in recounting the details of the crime and filing an accurate report. They might also be involved in photographing and collecting evidence from a criminal scene and delivering that evidence to the department of forensic science to be processed. From looking into fatalities to tracking down the source of fraudulent checks, investigators are on hand to find the answers to the questions in each case.

•DISPATCHERS

Dispatchers, whether they work with one of the city departments or at the county’s 911 communications center, are responsible for answering calls and determining the appropriate action to take in response to those calls. A dispatcher will send an officer to a scene and is in continuous communication with officers on the job to make sure they have the information they need to make sound decisions in trying to help the community. Officers will pass information along to dispatchers, such as a suspect’s identification information during a traffic stop, for assistance in looking up a person’s background or potential criminal history. In Red Bay, in particular, dispatchers also act as jailers, charged with the care and keeping of inmates in the city’s four cells.

•STUDENT RESOURCE OFFICERS

Student Resource Officers, as the name suggestions, are based in the school system. They ensure safety and crime prevention in local schools, including helping to develop and enforce safety protocols to be followed during emergency situations. At the lower level especially, SROs work to build positive relationships with the students and encourage them to make good choices in life as law-abiding citizens. SROs might visit a classroom to share information in a group setting and also build one-on-one relationships with students during arrival, departure or any time of day.

•CORRECTIONS OFFICERS

Within the sheriff’s department, correctional officers are responsible for enforcing rules and regulations in the jail. They oversee individuals who have been arrested and are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to serve time. They supervise the daily activities of inmates, search inmates for illicit materials, settle arguments and enforce discipline.

•K9

K9 officers and their four-legged partners work as a team to carry out policing tasks to which certain breeds of dog are well-suited, such as detecting illegal substances and identifying individuals who were in contact with such substances. K9 pairs play a key role in apprehending criminals and keeping drugs off the street.