Bakersfield Police Department
Encyclopedia
The Bakersfield Police Department (BPD) is the agency responsible for law enforcement within the city of Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....

, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It has over 400 officers and staff, covering an area of 131 square miles (296.3 km2) serving an urban population of more than 450,000. The current chief of the department, since 2010, is Greg Williamson. The department protects the city, split between two areas: West area and East area with stations in each area aside from the main department headquarters. The department administration is made up of the chief of department, two assistant chiefs, four captains and eleven lieutenants.

The department headquarters are located at 1601 Truxtun Ave. The west area station is located at 1301 Buena Vista Rd. The east area station is located at East 11th St. The department shooting range is located on Truxtun Ave. with the K-9 training school next door to the range. The department training academy is located on Norris Rd in conjunction with the Kern County Sheriff's Department.

Mission statement

"The Bakersfield Police Department is committed to professional service which improves community safety and the quality of life by developing partnerships that promote efficient and innovative crime prevention, intervention and law enforcement service."

History

The Bakersfield Police Department traces its origin to the incorporation of the City of Bakersfield in 1898. On January 13, 1898 the Bakersfield City council instituted the Bakersfield City Marshal's Office with Thomas A. Baker as its first Marshal. The police department was itself incorporated on February 27, 1915 with Jacob Horace Dupes as Chief of police.

On July 3, 1941, The Bakersfield Police Department accepted its first female officer with the hiring of Mary Holman Dodge. In January 1953, the department established a female reserve component to assist with staff duties and material operations. In 1968, the department accepted its first African-American into its ranks by the hiring of Irma Carson.

In August 1973, the department established the Bomb Squad unit with one operator in order to deal with the emerging threat of explosive ordinance in the city. Today, the squad consists of five bomb detective technicians and two robots.

In June 1988, the department started its K-9 unit, consisting of five officers and 5 working dogs.
On February 8, 1994, the Bakersfield Police Activities League was established for at risk youth in the city. In June 1999, the department made city history with the promotion of Eric L. Mattlock as the first African-American chief of police for Bakersfield. On July 8, 2003, the Bakersfield Police Department started a School Resource Officer program by assigning a small detail to local city elementary schools.

In July 2003, the BPD investigated one of Bakersfield's most heinous and high profile crimes; The Harper family murders. The killing of two adults and three children in their own home sparked international media coverage and an investigation that would cross the entire United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.
The BPD was able to solve the case and make an arrest of one of the victims husband, Vincent Brothers
Vincent Brothers
Vincent Brothers is a convicted American mass murderer and the former vice principal of John C. Fremont Elementary School in Bakersfield, California...

. On May 15, 2007, Brothers was convicted of the crime of murder in the first degree. The conviction was due to the efforts of the investigations bureau of the Bakersfield Police Department.

In April 2010, the BPD promoted its first female in the departments history to the rank of Captain with the promotion of Hajir Nuridin.

Rank structure

The BPD uses a standard paramilitary rank structure.
Title Insignia
Chief of Department
Assistant Chief of Department
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Detective
Senior Officer
Officer

Assignments

Sworn assignments

  • Administration
  • Animal Control
  • Patrol Service Technician
  • Parking Enforcement
  • Public Relations Officer
  • School Resource Officer
  • Reserve Unit
  • Training
  • Patrol
  • Traffic
  • Investigations
  • Internal Affairs
  • Narcotics
  • Vice
  • Electronic Crimes Unit
  • Homeland Security Unit
  • Off Road Unit
  • GHOST Unit (anti-graffiti)
  • Warrant/Fugitive Unit (fugitive recovery)
  • Special Enforcement Unit (anti-gang)
  • K-9 Unit
  • Civil Disturbance Team
  • Bomb Squad
  • SWAT

Non-sworn assignments

  • Crime Analysis Unit
  • Crime Lab
  • Crime Prevention Office
  • Communication Center
  • Records and Reports
  • Evidence\Property Room
  • Police Chaplin
  • Police Activities League
  • Explorer Post

Vehicles and equipment

The Bakersfield Police Department employs the latest in uniforms, equipment and vehicles.

Uniforms and equipment

The BPD basic patrol uniform is compromised of 5.11 Tactical B Class uniform in midnight navy blue. Traffic officers wear a similar uniform, the only difference being the thicker motorcycle pants with a gold and blue braid stripe running the length of the pant legs and long black riding boots. Patrol officers, during spring/summer seasons, are authorized to wear either white or navy blue polo shirts with the department badge embroidered. 5.11 Tactical shorts in midnight navy are also authorized during hot weather conditions. K-9 officers are authorized to wear black 5.11 Tactical tactical duty uniforms. All officers in uniform or working field assignments wear Second Chance Level II body armor.

Standard uniform equipment consists of Bianchi International
Bianchi International
Bianchi International of Temecula, California is a worldwide producer of leather and nylon goods for the law enforcement industry. Since the 1970s they have produced items from gun holsters to duty belts and everything related in between...

 AccuMold Elite duty gear with a Safariland
Safariland
Safariland, LLC is a division of BAE Systems, Inc. a subsidiary of the United Kingdom-based defense and aerospace company BAE Systems PLC. It is a major designer and manufacturer of equipment for sporting, military, law enforcement, investigation and public safety personnel.-History:The company was...

 Model 6285 Belt Drop, Level II Retention holster, First Defense MK-4 Large Duty Size pepper spray, Taser International
TASER International
Taser International, Inc. is a developer, manufacturer, and distributor of the Taser less-lethal electroshock guns in the United States. It is based at Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. Taser is the most common brand of electroshock gun.-History:...

 X-26 taser, ASP, Inc.
ASP, Inc.
Armament Systems and Procedures, Inc. , is an offensive compliance weapons manufacturer providing equipment to law enforcement and private security companies. ASP is perhaps best known for its telescoping batons.-History:...

 21 inch expandable baton or Diamondwood straight stick baton, and two sets of Peerless chain link handcuffs. Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...

 hand held radios are standard carry.

The BPD Special Enforcement Unit uses most of the same uniforms and equipment as stated above, but are also allowed civilian clothing for undercover operations. Raid vests are used for executing warrant searches and field assignments.

The BPD Civil Disturbance Team wears black 5.11 Tactical two piece tactical duty uniforms, Galls Upper Body Protection System foam chest protectors, Bell RS100 tactical helmets, MSA Advantage 1000 CBA/RCA gas masks, and Galls shin guards. Flex-cuffs are standard carry for riot situations.

The BPD Bomb Squad wears khaki TRU-SPEC X-tream tactical uniforms with subdued tan tactical department patches for operations involving the unit. The Bomb Squad uses the First Defense EOD Bomb Disposal Suit for its EOD operations as well as two bomb disposal robot
Remote control vehicle
A remote control vehicle is defined as any mobile device that is controlled by a means that does not restrict its motion with an origin external to the device. This is often a radio control device, cable between control and vehicle, or an infrared controller...

s.

The BPD SWAT team wears universal camouflage pattern TRU-SPEC tactical response uniforms with subdued gray tactical department patches, PROTECH Cover 6 Plus Level III-A modular body armor, MSA Advantage 1000 CBA/RCA
gas masks, and Safariland 6004 tactical holsters. Black PROTECH Delta LT ballistic helmets are worn during operations.

Weapons

All police officers of the Bakersfield Police Department are issued a department standard sidearm. The current issue weapon is the GLOCK
Glock
Glock Ges.m.b.H. is a weapons manufacturer headquartered in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria, named after its founder, Gaston Glock...

 model 22 .40 S&W
.40 S&W
The .40 S&W is a rimless pistol cartridge developed jointly by major American firearms manufacturers Winchester and Smith & Wesson. The .40 S&W was developed from the ground up as a law enforcement cartridge designed to duplicate performance of the FBI's reduced velocity 10mm cartridge which could...

 handgun.

Patrol officers of the BPD are given the option of carrying either a Remington
Remington
- People :* Eliphalet Remington , American firearms designer* Philo Remington , American firearms and typewriter manufacturer, son of Eliphalet Remington* Frederic Remington , American painter and sculptor...

 model 870 12-gauge shotgun or a Colt
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...

 AR-15 5.56 mm Government carbine as a vehicle stationed arm.

The BPD Civil Disturbance Team uses a variety of non-lethal riot control weapons. These include Penn Arms L8-40 fixed stock 40mm multi-launcher Riot gun
Riot gun
A riot gun or less-lethal launcher is a type of firearm that is used to fire "non-lethal" ammunition for the purpose of suppressing riots. Less-lethal launchers may be special purpose firearms designed for riot control use, or standard firearms, usually shotguns and grenade launchers, adapted to...

 firing rubber, wood, or riot-control agents, Precision Ordnance Products 'Stingball' grenades, Defense Technology 'Han-Ball' and 'Tripple Chaser' CS
CS
-Companies and organisations:* Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles, a catholic religious congregation, also called Scalabrinians* Cultural Survival, an American nonprofit group dedicated to defending the human rights of indigenous peoples...

 grenades, 12 gauge
Gauge (bore diameter)
The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. Gauge is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm, and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound . Thus...

 bean-bag, rubber and wood rounds fired from Remington
Remington
- People :* Eliphalet Remington , American firearms designer* Philo Remington , American firearms and typewriter manufacturer, son of Eliphalet Remington* Frederic Remington , American painter and sculptor...

 870 shotguns, TASER International
TASER International
Taser International, Inc. is a developer, manufacturer, and distributor of the Taser less-lethal electroshock guns in the United States. It is based at Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. Taser is the most common brand of electroshock gun.-History:...

 X-26 tasers, and Monadnock polycarbonate riot batons, and 48" x 24" x 1/8" concave plastic riot shields.

The BPD SWAT team uses both the Colt
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...

 model LE6933 M-4 Commando and model LE6921 M-4 Carbine in 5.56 mm with both Trijicon
Trijicon
Trijicon ) is an American company, based in Wixom, Michigan, that manufactures and distributes optical sighting devices for firearms, including pistols, rifles, and shotguns....

 RX30-14 Reflex and TA01NSN ACOG sights and SureFire
Surefire
SureFire, LLC. is a Fountain Valley, California company whose primary products are flashlights, headlamps, weapon mounted lights and laser sights. In addition, Surefire also manufactures knives, sound suppressors, Picatinny Rails and batteries. The company is a major supplier of flashlights to the...

 M900A vertical foregrip weapon lights with one weapon issued with an M203 40 mm grenade launcher for less-lethal ordinance, Benelli
Benelli (firearms)
Benelli Armi SpA is an Italian firearm manufacturer founded in 1967, located in Urbino, Italy, best known for high quality shotguns used by military, law enforcement and civilians all over the world. Particularly famous is the Benelli M3 12 gauge, used extensively by American SWAT teams...

 model M-1 Tactical Entry 12-gauge semi-auto shotgun with ghost ring sights and Surefire
Surefire
SureFire, LLC. is a Fountain Valley, California company whose primary products are flashlights, headlamps, weapon mounted lights and laser sights. In addition, Surefire also manufactures knives, sound suppressors, Picatinny Rails and batteries. The company is a major supplier of flashlights to the...

 handle mounted tactical lights, a Remington
Remington
- People :* Eliphalet Remington , American firearms designer* Philo Remington , American firearms and typewriter manufacturer, son of Eliphalet Remington* Frederic Remington , American painter and sculptor...

 model 870 12-gauge pump shotgun for entry\less-lethal ordinance and a Penn Arms L8-40 fixed stock 40mm multi-launcher Riot gun
Riot gun
A riot gun or less-lethal launcher is a type of firearm that is used to fire "non-lethal" ammunition for the purpose of suppressing riots. Less-lethal launchers may be special purpose firearms designed for riot control use, or standard firearms, usually shotguns and grenade launchers, adapted to...

 firing rubber, wood, or riot-control agents. SWAT snipers use customized Remington
Remington
- People :* Eliphalet Remington , American firearms designer* Philo Remington , American firearms and typewriter manufacturer, son of Eliphalet Remington* Frederic Remington , American painter and sculptor...

 model 700 Police 7.62 mm bolt action rifles with Leupold scopes. Enrty teams use Defense Technology No.25 distraction devices as well as 'Han-Ball', 'Tripple Chaser' and 40mm lanunched CS
CS
-Companies and organisations:* Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles, a catholic religious congregation, also called Scalabrinians* Cultural Survival, an American nonprofit group dedicated to defending the human rights of indigenous peoples...

 grenades.

Vehicles

The Bakersfield Police Department operates Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors as a standard patrol vehicle. The cruisers are in the standard black and white configuration with Code 360 light bars, MX700s and newer Code 3 Defender LED Lightbars. Their standard siren system is the Code 3 MasterCom with a Z100 100W speaker, although some of the newer cruisers have new siren systems such as the Code 3 RLS. All BPD cruisers are equipped with Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 based mobile data terminals and Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...

 console communication radios. Currently, the department is now adding new equipment that will better aide officers during operations and field investigations. The new equipment is to include vehicle licence plate scanners that can search statewide databases on the spot for DUI offenses and stolen vehicles. Curisers also carry handheld fingerprint scanners known as Blue Check for instantaneous field identification. Also, the BPD is in the use of in-car lineups software package for the mobile data terminals. The program known as COPLINK is connected to major law enforcement databases around the state of California to complie data on possible suspect information. E-cite citation devices are also carried aboard BPD cruisers.

The BPD Traffic unit operates Harley Davidson Electra Glide-Police and BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...

 R 1200 RT-P motorcycles in standard black and white configuration with Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...

 communication radios, Blue Check handheld fingerprint scanners, and E-cite citation devices. They also operate standard patrol cruisers with dash mounted radar for use during inclement weather.

The BPD Investigations Bureau uses Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors in civilian color schemes equipped with Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 based mobile data terminals with the Coplink system, Blue Check handheld fingerprint scanners, Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...

 communication radios and dash mounted emergency lights, as well as numerous civilian vehicles for clandestine operations.

The BPD Special Operations Unit operate Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors in the standard black and white configuration with CODE 360 light bars. They are equipped with Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 based mobile data terminals with the Coplink system, Blue Check handheld fingerprint scanners, and Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...

 console communication radios as well as dash mounted emergency lights.

The BPD Patrol Service Technicians operate Ford F-150 and Dodge
Dodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....

 Dakota pickups in all white configuration with department logos. All pickups come equipped with Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...

 console communication radios as well as various traffic control tools and devices.

The BPD also operates various specialized vehicles for different operations. These include a Ford Expedition for commercial vehicle operations, six BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...

 G 650 Xchallenge dirt bikes for off-road and river patrol use, two Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...

 Rhino 4x4 utility vehicles for off-road and river patrol use, Ford and Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...

 Econoline and Spartan vans for crime scene, crime prevention, prisoner transport use, one Navistar International
Navistar International
Navistar International Corporation is a United States-based holding company that owns the manufacturer of International brand commercial trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus school and commercial buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans, and is a private label...

 DuraStar Custom truck for use by the Bomb Squad, one Freightliner Trucks
Freightliner Trucks
Freightliner Trucks is an American manufacturer of heavy duty trucks, chassis and semi-trailer trucks in the United States. The company was founded as Freightliner Inc in 1942 and is now a division of Daimler Trucks North America, a subsidiary of the German Daimler AG...

 LDV mobile command post for use in emergency operations, one specialized MT-55 ladder van truck for use by the SWAT team, and one Lenco BearCat armored rescue vehicle for use in emergency recovery and SWAT operations. All vehicles are adorned with the Bakersfield Police name and logo.

Academy and training

The Bakersfield Police Department has had a variety of training academies throughout its existence. While most of the academies were run by the BPD with the goal of training solely BPD officers, there has been two occasions when the department, for fiscal reasons, joined with another agency to fund and run a joint academy to train multiple agency officers. The most recent incarnation that the BPD operated was the Bakersfield Law Enforcement Training Academy located on the grounds of Bakersfield College
Bakersfield College
Bakersfield College is a public community college located in Bakersfield, California, USA. Bakersfield College has an official Twitter account at @bcrenegades and an official...

, which began operations in January 1999 and culminated with the graduating of Class 01/99 on June 5, 1999. The Academy continued to train officers for Bakersfield Police and other agencies until 2008 when a fiscal crisis demanded that the department once again be joined with the Kern County Sheriff Department to train law enforcement officers.
Currently both the BPD and the KCSD command the Kern Regional Law Enforcement Training Academy, located on Norris Rd. The KRLETA is accredited by and follows the criteria set forth by the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 commission of Peace Officers Standards and Training.

Fallen officers

Since the establishment of the Bakersfield Police Department, seven officers have given their lives in service to the city of Bakersfield.
Officer Date of Death Details
City Marshal Thomas Jefferson Packard Monday, April 20, 1903 Gunfire
Officer Frank Sparks Saturday, June 16, 1917 Motorcycle accident
Officer Aaron Alexander Trent Wednesday, August 22, 1917 Struck by train
Officer Floyd B.D.W. Cummings Monday, January 7, 1952 Fall
Officer William Lord Rucker Sunday, July 20, 1952 Motorcycle accident
Sergeant Patrick Don Vegas Friday, June 20, 1980 Motorcycle accident
Officer William Leonard Sikola Sunday, July 17, 1983 Vehicle pursuit

Multimedia

The Bakersfield Police Department has established an informational website that allows the citizens of Bakersfield the opportunity to be involved in solving criminal cases within the Bakersfield community. The "Bakersfield Police Open-Case Files" is a continuously updated website that permits citizens to review open and unsolved cases and report any and all information that they may have that may assist the department in solving cold cases and leading to the arrest and conviction of outstanding criminals.

The Bakersfield Police Department provides an informational website that tracts the crime rates in the city. "Bakersfield Police Crime Statistics" is an interactive website that provides the statistics for crime reporting and calls for service in a given area. Users of the site can locate their area within the city of Bakersfield and see the level of crime for a particular date. The site lists areas by maps, calls for service levels and the location of crimes that have occurred.

The Bakersfield Police Department has authorized the establishment of a multimedia informational website other than their official city website. The "BPDInsider" is a monthly updated website that provides topics of interest and question that can be answered about the Bakersfield Police Department. The sight was fully operational as of March 12, 2008.

The Bakersfield Police Activities League maintains a website dedicated to their efforts to prevent juvenile delinquency by providing skills through education, athletics and opportunities to at risk youth.

The Bakersfield Police Officers Association maintains a website dedicated to the department's police officer union as well as giving information to the general public about officer activities and events.

Controversy

The Bakersfield Police Department has been criticized over the years as being a department that relies on heavy handed tactics and over use of force when dealing with crime. A number of complaints by criminals, suspects, families of people involved in investigations by the BPD as well as witnesses have surfaced in recent years. Complaints of excessive force, racial profiling, harassment and delays in response for calls for service have been levied against the department.

In March 2001, Tony Eddington and Robert Johnson were stopped in the city of Bakersfield for a traffic violation. The two men, who are black, say they were ordered to strip from their clothing in order to be searched on the roadside. The men contend the search was racially motivated. The two men sued the BPD for damages exceeding $350,000.00. The BPD settled out of court for an undisclosed sum and have since installed a permanent policy detailing rules on when officers may conduct strip searches in the field.

There have been many complaints against the BPD for excessive use of force. Most notably is when there is an officer involved shooting. Many critics of the department have made the charge of shooting first, asking questions later and firing too many rounds at suspects. A federal probe of the BPD was begun in July 2003. The probe would seek information and investigate some 47 complaints against the BPD for use of force and racial profiling. In January 2008, the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...

 cleared the Bakersfield Police Department of any wrong doing stemming from the complaints.

Policy changes

In 2004, newly promoted Chief William Rector discontinued the department policy that had allowed BPD officers to use leather covered lead saps as secondary impact weapons in addition to the standard batton. The BPD was one of the last departments in the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 to still allow the use of leather covered saps.

Because of the Department of Justice investigation and stemming from other citizen complaints, The BPD has made several changes to its policy and procedures. Key policy changes have included:
  • Creation of a use-of-force manual and reporting system

All rules on use of force for officers have now been compiled into a manual. The reporting system is now more defined. For example, when an officer uses force at a scene, the sergeant makes a report that is put into a system.
  • Deployment and use of chemical agents

The department added a written policy dictating that pepper spray may only be used closer than three feet from the subject under extreme circumstances. And it added a written policy on decontaminating someone after they have been pepper-sprayed.
  • Shooting at moving vehicles

Officers should not put themselves in the path of a moving vehicle that creates the necessity to shoot at a vehicle.
  • Internal Affairs investigative protocols

The internal affairs section and detective division investigate officer-involved shootings. One department is used to investigate officer-involved shootings.
  • Canine deployment language and reporting

An officer with a K-9 must warn a suspect before releasing the dog.

On July 5, 2008, it was announced that the BPD will begin using polygraphs as a part of the hiring process to become an officer with the department. The BPD had resisted the concept for several years as other California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

 agencies were introducing polygraphs into their background investigations of law enforcement new hires. The new policy will take effect in early 2009.

In June 2009, the BPD began full on-line crime reporting for citizens. This is the mandatory way for residents of Bakersfield to report non-emergency crime. The department, in the past, had on-line crime reporting, but this was optional. The department now requires all non-emergency crimes to be reported on the department website instead of having a Police Service Technician respond to a call for service.

Portrayals in fiction

A television sitcom entitled Bakersfield P.D.
Bakersfield P.D.
Bakersfield P.D. was a short-lived American television comedy series that aired on the Fox network in 1993-94.The show was based in the police department of the city of Bakersfield, California. It was shot with naturalistic lighting and without a laugh track...

aired on the FOX network during the 1993-1994 season. It dealt with life inside the Bakersfield Police Department, portraying the department as an incompetent, backwoods police force. It starred Chris Mulkey
Chris Mulkey
Chris Mulkey is an American actor who most recently appeared in Against the Wall, Cloverfield, the NBC TV movie Knight Rider, and as a corporate executive in season 7 of 24...

, Tony Plana
Tony Plana
Tony Plana is a Cuban-American actor and director. He is well known for playing Betty Suarez's father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC show Ugly Betty.-Personal life:...

, and Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray
Brian Doyle-Murray is an American comedian, screenwriter, actor and voice artist. He is the older brother of actor/comedian Bill Murray and has acted together with him in several films, including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, The Razor's Edge and Groundhog Day...

.

The Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...

 movie Any Which Way You Can
Any Which Way You Can
* Beers To You** Written by Steve Dorff , John Durrill , Sandy Pinkard and Snuff Garrett ** Sung by Ray Charles and Clint Eastwood* Any Which Way You Can...

featured scenes in the city of Bakersfield with a car chase scene involving Bakersfield Police officers.

A fourth season episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...

, entitled "Dead Ringer", featured a secondary murder plot involving a female Bakersfield Police detective as a possible suspect.

In 1999, KB Toys
KB Toys
K·B Toys was a chain of mall-based retail toy stores in the United States. It was founded in 1922 by the Kaufman brothers. K·B operated 605 stores in 44 U.S. states, Puerto Rico as well as Guam. It was privately held in Pittsfield, Massachusetts...

 released a line of exclusive diecast metal toy cars based on classic hotrod cars featuring real city police logos and paint schemes. "Cop Rods" by Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...

 featured a tail dragger hotrod decorated in the Bakersfield Police department style.

See also



External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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