The Athens Police Department provides a variety of services, ranging from patrolling the streets to residential security surveys.
Our first and main priority is to keep the people who live, work, travel, and go to school, throughout the city of Athens as safe as possible. During an average shift officers patrol residential and business areas to make sure they are safe, and respond to calls of; distress, crime, accidents, and lost or missing persons.
2009 Federal Byrne Memorial Justice Administration Grant for Public Review
To comment on this application, please e-mail Captain Tom Pyle
Services Provided
· Criminal Complaint Processing
· Vacation Checks
· Vehicle Unlocks (If the locked condition posses possible threat to life or property)
· Residential & Commercial Security Surveys
· Noise Complaints
· Criminal Investigations
· Sexual Assault & Cyber Crime Investigations
· Crime Prevention Tips
· Funeral & Special Detail Escorts
· First Aid & CPR
An Ordinance on December 4, 1911 created the Athens City Police Department, effective January 1, 1912. The department was to consist of a chief, and one or more patrolmen, special patrolmen, and detectives. The first chief was W.A. Mills. Since that time, there have been ten Chiefs of Police. The current and tenth chief is Richard L. Mayer. Currently, the department is authorized 28 sworn officers comprising of a chief, a captain, 6 lieutenants, and 20 patrol officers. In addition, the department includes 4 communications officers, an administrative assistant, a public records clerk, and a licensed social worker. The department also includes and oversees the parking enforcement division, comprised of a data entry clerk, four parking enforcement officers, and a meter repairman. The department is further augmented by a part-time intern, a reserve force of police officers, communications officer and parking enforcement officer, and a Boy Scouts of America Law Enforcement Explorer Post.
The Athens City Police Department is a department of city government which exists and is granted powers through state and local codes and ordinances to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the laws of the State of Ohio, and the ordinances of the City of Athens. To facilitate this existence and in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, the department is funded by the city and given general oversight by the Safety Director.
Police departments were created to help citizens in the preservation of an orderly, peaceful society by providing late night patrol of businesses and neighborhoods. Often, the police officers, marshals, constables, and persons with similar titles, were local citizens who gave of some of their time to help the community in the preservation of peace. These were citizen volunteers. They also became a source of help in apprehending criminals and eventually developed skills in criminal investigation. With the formalization of police departments, local politicians used the police for advancing their viewpoints. As time progressed, and police departments became larger, more formal organizations, a separation was made in an effort to give them autonomy from party politics, but with some oversight by elected officials. This is even seen in today's FBI and other federal level agencies. All current-day United States police agencies, including the Athens City Police Department, have evolved from those beginnings and the basic concept of preservation of the peace.
In keeping with the basic concept of why police departments were created, the Athens City Police Department is comprised primarily of patrol officers who provide 24-hours a day, 7-days a week patrol services for the City of Athens. These services include late night patrol, response to criminal acts, enforcement of traffic and criminal laws, and providing assistance to citizens and other agencies and departments within and without the City and its sphere of influence. These services have been expanded by the special assignment of certain officers. Assignments include criminal investigations, crime prevention, in-school programming for youth, and other proactive programs aimed at reducing or preventing crime and disorderliness at or before its beginning stages.
