Stamford Police Department

About the Stamford Police Department

About Our Department

The Stamford Police Department is the sole, full-time law enforcement agency responsible for public safety in the city.  The Department consists of several different units, all falling within four Police Districts.  Due in large part to the efforts of the Police Department, the FBI has ranked Stamford as one of the safest cities in the nation for nine consecutive years.  The department is firmly committed to a collaborative, cooperative and interactive community policing philosophy.  District Commanders regularly attend meetings with neighborhood associations and community groups, and are committed to working with residents to identify and solve community issues before they become crime problems.

The success of the Stamford Police Department has also been achieved in part because the department has significantly enhanced its capacity to provide excellent police services by adding several specialty units, as well as acquiring advanced tactical and technological equipment. The department plans on significantly expanding forensics capabilities as well as implementing advanced tactical training to ensure that both visitors and Stamford residents continue to feel safe and secure in their neighborhoods and schools.

Some examples of the specialty units that contribute to our excellent patrol operations include the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU), Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), the Canine Unit, the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad (CARS), the Harbor Patrol Unit, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), the Motorcycle Unit, the Special Response Team (SRT), the Special Victims Unit (SVU) and the Traffic Enforcement Unit. The department also sponsors a Youth Mentoring Program which includes summer camps, basketball leagues and other youth-engagement features.  These all operate and are designed to strengthen and reinforce positive police/youth relationships.

UNITS

The Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) is a co-responder team addressing mental health in the City of Stamford. The unit consists of officers and licensed social workers who collaborate with each client and their family to identify needs, conduct assessments, and provide referrals. BHU focuses on a variety of concerns including mental health, elderly services, youth services, substance use, basic needs, and trauma recovery.

The Bomb Squad is responsible for the identification, handling, and safe disposal of explosive devices and hazardous materials. Their duties include responding to bomb threats, investigating suspicious packages, and conducting controlled detonations of explosives. They work closely with other law enforcement and emergency response teams to ensure public safety, often using specialized equipment such as bomb suits, robots, and X-ray devices. Additionally, the bomb squad provides training to other officers, conduct security sweeps at public events, and assists in criminal investigations involving explosives.

The Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) encompasses two investigative sections: Crimes Against Persons (Major Crimes Unit), and Crimes Against Property (Burglary & Financial Crimes Unit). These units conduct long term investigations of Index crimes and other types of crimes that require a degree of specialization. The Bureau of Criminal Investigations is supported by a Digital Forensics Unit, which conducts forensic analysis on digital devices, and a Crime Scene Unit, which documents crime scenes and collects and processes evidence.

The Canine Unit consists of eight officers and eight highly trained dogs. The unit has significantly improved the department’s capacity to conduct narcotic searches, assist in crowd control, locate missing persons, and detect ammunition/explosives.

The Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad (CARS) is responsible for investigating fatal or serious accidents that may result in a fatality. All investigators in the unit have received extensive advanced training and are experts in the field of motor vehicle accident reconstruction. The investigators also conduct periodic checkpoints such as Click-It-Or-Ticket seatbelt enforcement and Operating Under the Influence check points.

The Harbor Patrol Unit operates year round and consists of three vessels. The unit has many responsibilities including search and rescue operations, enforcing laws pertinent to the water, conducting criminal law enforcement on the water and assisting local, state, and federal agencies in homeland security operations along our coastline.

The Hostage Negotiation Team is tasked with peacefully resolving situations involving hostages, barricaded individuals, or persons in crisis. Their primary goal is to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safety of all involved by using communication strategies, psychological expertise, and active listening. They work closely with our SRT team, providing critical intelligence and coordinating responses to evolving situations. Our hostage negotiators are trained to build rapport, assess threats, and manage high-stress scenarios, often acting as a lifeline between individuals in crisis and law enforcement to achieve a non-violent resolution.

The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) is the lead law enforcement agency in our regional task force which is comprised of surrounding jurisdictions and the Connecticut State’s Attorney Office. Our investigators utilize advanced forensics capabilities to locate, arrest, and prosecute child sexual predators. Our Task Force has taken the lead in utilizing forensics tools to address the growing problems of child exploitation via the internet.

The Motorcycle Unit operates year-round. The unit is responsible for traffic enforcement which includes laser speed enforcement, traffic control signal and stop sign violations, and most importantly, monitoring school bus violations to help protect our children.

The Special Response Team (SRT) is a highly trained, disciplined tactical team that is prepared to respond to any major tactical crisis within the city. The team’s primary mission is to resolve high-risk incidents with minimal risk to human life. Some of these incidents include hostage situations, high-risk search and arrest warrants, barricaded suspects, and any other situations deemed appropriate by the police administration.

The Special Victims Unit (SVU) is the first of its kind in the region and was formed to investigate crimes of domestic violence, elder abuse, crimes against people with diminished capacity, intimate stalking and harassment and cohabitating sexual assault investigations. The unit partners with state and local agencies as well as several social service providers.