Deputy Chief of Patrol - Marty Kent
The Patrol Division of the Bozeman Police Department is comprised of 33 sworn, highly trained, professional police officers. They serve 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing the law enforcement emergency response needs for the citizens of
The primary responsibilities of the patrol officer are answering calls for service from the public, providing law enforcement education, and enforcing criminal and traffic laws. Patrol officers find themselves wearing several different hats during a typical 10 hour shift. An officer working a shift can find his or her duties ranging from investigating a minor traffic accident one minute to arresting a violent felon the next minute. Each officer has to be able to switch hats and roles and be able to quickly adjust from counselor to protector to educator to mentor. The officers augment their abilities to proactively react to providing public safety by using a variety of tools, techniques and assignments to provide a wide range of law enforcement services. Police K9, motorcycle patrol, bicycle patrol, Civil Defense Unit member (riot control) and Special Response Team member (tactical team) are just some of the different assignments a patrol officer may take on to address different concerns throughout the city.
The current Field Training Evaluation Program consists of 15 weeks of training. All new police officers complete this program along with 12 weeks at the
In an effort to keep more officers in the field, one of the many new tools that have helped the patrol officers is the addition of Mobile Data Terminals (MDT) to each of the patrol cars. The introduction of MDT's is a culmination of grant money, city funds and cooperation with the Montana Department of Transportation. These terminals allow the patrol officer to verify driver's licenses, verify ownership of vehicles, and determine if a person, vehicle or item is wanted, missing or stolen. By putting this equipment in a patrol car, the officer is able to quickly determine if a vehicle driving in front of the officer is stolen, if a person stopped during a traffic stop is wanted or if a person is giving the officer false names or identification. The MDT helps keep the radio free for emergency traffic, in turn freeing up dispatch, and allows the officer more opportunity for taking proactive steps toward investigations, such as locating stolen vehicles. In a matter of minutes, an officer can check each vehicle in a parking lot and see if one is stolen or not. The department is working toward additional benefits in the future with the use of MDT's, particularly the use of accessible maps, keeping radio calls off the air where a burglar can overhear a call and the use of GPS in the vehicles to keep immediate location of vehicles known for better and safer coverage of Bozeman.
The Bozeman Police Department Patrol Division continues to help and guide the community to solve law enforcement related issues. The level of dedication, integrity and professionalism of the police officers who serve our community only continues to increase. Each officer continues to meet the demanding challenges set before them while demonstrating fairness, compassion and commitment to the community in which they serve.