Akron Police Department is the primary municipal law enforcement agency for the city of Akron, Ohio, United States [1] with 451 employees. The current Police Chief is Brian Harding. [2]
The city of Akron was founded in December 1825, where the south part of the downtown Akron neighborhood sits today.The earliest artifact present in the Akron Police Department Museum is a key to the Akron Police Jail from 1890. [3] [4]
The Akron police department was the first police department ever to use a horseless, motorized police vehicle. It was powered by two 4-hp electric motors and could reach a maximum speed of 18 mph travel and travel 30 miles before its battery had to be recharged. It was manufactured by the Collins Buggy Company and designed by city mechanical engineer Frank Loomis. It was operated by officer Louis Mueller Sr. The car was a paddy wagon which waited 5000 pounds and cost $2,400($65,000 in today's money). It had a seating space of 12 people and was equipped with electric headlights, a gong and a cell for prisoners. Its first assignment was to pick up an intoxicated man at Main and Exchange streets. During the Riot of 1900 It was damaged and thrown inside Ohio & Erie Canals by rioters who exchanged fire with police officers who then fled the police headquarters to escape from the burning building. It was rescued the next day and remained in service until 1905 before being sold for $25. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
The Akron Police Department is made up of 3 divisions-the Uniformed subdivision, the Investigative Subdivision and the Services Subdivision. These subdivisions may be further divided into bureaus and specialized units. The uniformed subdivision performs most of the regular police work done by the department. The personnel working in the investigative subdivision are responsible for all the investigative work performed by the department. The personnel serving in the services subdivision perform a variety of administrative and technical tasks related to the maintenance and functioning of the department. [14]
It is the largest subdivision inside the Akron PD. It is further divided into the Patrol Bureau and the Traffic Bureau.The primary function of the patrol bureau is to respond to calls for service and patrol the neighborhoods of Akron to ensure public order. The Patrol Bureau consists of five patrol platoons in addition to many other specialized units for accomplishing certain specific tasks. [14] The specialized units maintained by the patrol bureau include:
The Traffic Bureau enforces traffic laws, is in charge of traffic management for special events and is also involved in traffic patrol. They are often the first responders to vehicular accidents. The Bureau's other specialized function include Hit Skip, Commercial Vehicle Weight Enforcement, and Traffic Crash Reconstruction. The traffic crash reconstruction unit investigates fatal or serious accidents and felonies and analyses crashes, evaluates equipment requisitions, and assists in criminal investigations where motor vehicles are involved. [14]
The investigative subdivision of APD is commanded by the deputy chief of police. It investigates crimes, apprehends offenders, processes crime scenes, recovers stolen property and prepares cases for trial. The specialist units that come inside the investigative subdivision are:
The services subdivision performs inter departmental functions required for the maintenance of the Akron Police Department. It consists of the Administrative Services Bureau and The Technical Services Bureau.
The Administrative Services Bureau primarily handles the overall financial administration of the department. It is further divided into the units Training, Planning and Research, Civil Liabilities, and Equipment Control.
The Training Bureau conducts annual training for police officers and reserves, and operates the Akron Police Department Police Academy.
The Planning and Research branch handles federal and state grants allotted to the department as well as other Special Revenue Funds which total in excess of $5,700,000. It manages the departments partnerships with the Caring Communities, East Akron Community House, Children's Services and the University of Akron.
The technical services bureau consists of the following units:
Title | Insignia |
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Chief of Police | ![]() |
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Police Officer/Police Detective |
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