Monroe County (NY) Rochester City PD

History

As of June, 2004, RPD was reorganized in an effort to increase patrol efficiency and to save taxpayer money on administrative costs and staffing. This most recent reorganization divides the City into only two parts - East and West. The East Side commander is responsible for patrol operations in the former Highland, Goodman, and Clinton Sections (see below), as well as the Staff Duty Officer and Special Events Sections. The West Side Commander runs patrol operations in the former Lake, Maple, Genesee, and Downtown Sections, along with the Bomb Squad, Scuba Squad, Emergency Task Force, Hostage Negotiation Team, and Mobile Field Force, and supervises the Tactical, Traffic, Youth Services, and Animal Control Units. All patrol unit numbers now have 4 digits. The listing below will be updated as information becomes available.

Here is an official map of RPD's Patrol Service Areas in PDF format (click on Here, which is a link).

The numbering and geographical coverage of the RPD Sections reflect the evolution of the department. Around 1975, RPD cars had numbers like Charlie-19 and King-34. The three patrol zones were Adam, Baker and Charlie, with King designating investigators. Suburban police departments used the numbers in the 100-499 series that RPD is using now.

When the City was first carved up into Sections, there were seven of them. Downtown (inside the Inner Loop) was shared by Maple (2), Highland (4) and Atlantic (5) Sections. Patrol sections were based on geographical and cultural boundaries. They were further subdivided into car beats according to the percentage of police responses within each portion of the section. This time roughly corresponded with the general renumbering of all police units in Monroe County as they formed a Mobile Radio District (MRD).

The first digit of an RPD car number generally indicates whether it is a supervisory, patrol or specialized unit. (see table) The second digit of a patrol car number indicates what part of the Section it patrols. Lower numbers are closer to the downtown area. The third digit tells the unit's patrol Section.

Fiscal problems caused the department to restructure its patrol division. The old Atlantic (5) Section was consolidated with Highland (4). The car beats retained their Atlantic numbers, but there was no longer a separate office or command staff.

Not long after this, it became necessary to establish a patrol section to handle the special needs of the City's business and cultural center within the Inner Loop. Section 9 - Downtown - was born. Maple and Highland eliminated their 232 and 235 car beats and changed some of their beat boundaries for better coverage.

Being physically smaller than the other Sections and having relatively little "bedroom" population, Downtown had only three beat areas and a host of special daytime units. The Downtown Section is responsible for the Traffic Enforcement Unit, prisoner transport wagons and the Mounted Patrol. There is also a Tactical Section (8) that includes surveillance operations, special details and police dogs. Tactical assists the patrol sections during busy periods.

January, 1993 saw a slight reorganization of the city's patrol section boundaries. Maple Section was expanded into the southern part of Lake Section, while Clinton and Goodman Sections added coverage toward the east and south. Downtown Section expanded into Clinton and Highland Sections to allow the department to follow future economic development and to reduce the volume of calls for the larger sections.

During the Summer of 1997, a citywide redistricting took place. Lake Section became much smaller, while Clinton and Maple Sections were enlarged. The Highland Section's patrol beats were renumbered so that all regular cars would have the number "4" at the end. The "Highland 5" cars are now assigned to 4th Platoon.

Many specialized services are provided by sworn RPD police officers. There is the Special Tactical Forces Squad (SWAT team), Hazardous Device Disposal Squad (the Bomb Squad), the Criminal Investigation Division and the Special Criminal Investigation Service. Services offered by non-sworn civilian personnel include the Family Crisis Intervention Team, the Child Abuse Reduction & Enforcement unit and the Victim Assistance unit.

Animal Control units staffed by the Humane Society of Monroe County operate on RPD Channel 3. There are several other specialized units that may be heard when certain types of crimes or other incidents occur. Special Accident investigators handle serious or fatal motor vehicle accidents and those that involve DWI. Professional Standards is RPD's "Internal Affairs" unit. Physical Crimes is part of CID and investigates homicides and other violent crimes against people. Evidence Technicians respond when photos need to be taken of a crime scene or when there is physical evidence to be processed or impounded.

The Staff Duty Officer, in car 410, is in charge of the street operations of the Department during the afternoon (3rd Platoon) and overnight (1st Platoon) shifts. Undercover units such as Narcotics have the highest car numbers (above 480). They can appear on the air at any time of the day or night and their presence can signal exciting radio traffic to follow.

The unique marking "First in New York" appears on the fenders of some older RPD patrol cars. This is because the Rochester Police Department was the first police department in New York State to receive accreditation by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

New police cars began appearing on city streets toward the end of 1992. The newer cars were 1993 Ford LTD Crown Victorias. The RPD markings were applied to these cars with blue reflective tape, instead of blue paint. These new RPD patrol vehicles look very sharp, especially at night with news camera lights shining on them.

Marked State Police cars are rarely seen answering calls within the City of Rochester. In order to free more RPD officers to answer emergencies in their patrol beats, RPD and NYSP entered into a special agreement in late Spring, 1991. Under the GRIP (Greater Rochester Interstate Patrol) agreement, troopers now patrol the expressways within the City of Rochester, including routes 104, 490, 590 and the Inner Loop. The State Police continue to patrol all other area expressways as well.

During certain types of major incident, Rochester police units are assembled into Task Forces and dispatched in groups. Task Force numbers are assigned at the time of the incident and can be readily identified as being different from the regular RPD number series. Each Task Force is assigned to an assembly point and the units respond together to each call, then return there. This style of operation was used during the disturbances that followed the Rodney King trial verdict.

Rochester PD operates the 10th largest bicycle patrol in the nation, with 40 officers assigned. Bicycle patrol units identify as "Bike ##", with the second digit denoting the officer's assigned patrol section.

Numerous proactive crime prevention programs operate within the City, in cooperation with various neighborhood associations and the police. A recent development consists of the six NET offices (Neighborhood Empowerment Team). NET offices serve one or more Sector as designated under the Neighbors Building Neighborhoods (NBN) program. The Crime Prevention Officer in each Section used to be a single officer who worked the day shift on weekdays. Now each Section has at least one CPO for each NBN Sector within that section. In addition to using the old 17# numbers, CPOs identify in "CP-Sector-Section" format. For example, the CPO for the Maplewood (Sector 2) portion of Lake Section is known as CP21.

Lake Section operates a step van with the lettering "ACT-1" on the side. ACT stands for "Against Crime Together". The van was purchased jointly by four neighborhood associations, the Maplewood Business Association, and Kodak. It is used for various public events and is staffed by specially trained civilian volunteers.

By mid-2004, RPD had been reaorganized again into two major patrol divisions separated by the Genesee River, with the old Downtown Section remaining as part of the West Side. All administrative and support functions are also assigned under the East or West Side. Rather than reproduce the command structure here, I refer the interested reader to Rochester PD's own web site. The following table shows the new numbering system.

Unit Numbers

Rochester PD

General Numbering	Specific Units
1000 Department Command	1000 Chief of Police
100# Commanders or Captains	1001 Deputy Chief of Operations
101# Staff Lieutenants	1002 Director of Organizational Development
102# Staff Sergeants	1003 Commander of Eastside Patrol Division
103# Staff Officers	1004 Commander of Westside Patrol Division
104# Locust Club	1005 Commander of Inspectional Services (reserved)
105#-109# Staff Officers	1006 Commander of Investigations Division
2000 Eastside Patrol	1007 Captain of Chief's Office
200# Patrol Captains	1008 Captain of Research & Evaluation
21## Patrol Lieutenants	1011 Lieutenant of Chief's Office
22## Patrol Sergeants	1012 Lieutenant of Deputy Chief's & Director's Offices
23##-35## Patrol officers	1013 Eastside Patrol Lieutenant's Aide
3000 Eastside (with exceptions)	1014 Westside Patrol Lieutenant's Aide
368# Eastside Wagons	1018 Lieutenant of Research & Evaluation
37## Eastside Neighborhood Empowerment Teams	1021,2 Sergeants of Chief's Office
38## Civilians (Citywide)	1023 Eastside Patrol Sergeant
380# Animal Control (Citywide)	1024 Westside Patrol Sergeant
381# Animal Control (Citywide)	1026 Sergeant of ID Commander's Office
382# Family Crisis Intervention Teams (Citywide)	1028 Sergeant of Research & Evaluation
383# Family Crisis Intervention Teams (Citywide)	1031,2 Research & Evaluation officers
384# Eastside Parking Monitors
385# Westside Parking Monitors	7110 Staff Duty Officer
39## Eastside Details	7345 Emergency Communications Division
4000 Westside Patrol
400# Patrol Captains	8191 Bomb Truck
41## Patrol Lieutenants	8200 Van 200
42## Patrol Sergeants	8291,2 SCUBA Vehicles
43##-55## Patrol Officers	8300 Van 300
5000 Westside (with exceptions)	8391 ETF Truck
568# Westside Wagons	8392 ETF Rescue Truck
57## Westside Neighborhood Empowerment Teams
59## Eastside Details
6000 Investigations Section
600#-605# Commander or Captains (reserved)
606# SIS Lieutenants
607# CID Lieutenants
608#-609# unused
61## unused
62## Eastside Investigators
63## Eastside Investigations Supervisors
64## Westside Investigators
65## Westside Investigations Supervisors
66## Special Intelligence/Investigations (?) Unit
661# Eastside Narcotics
662# Westside Narcotics
663# Police Stabilizing Neighborhoods
664# Firearms Suppression Unit
665# Administration
666# GRANET (?)1
667# Violent Crimes Team
668# Intelligence
669# SESU (?)
67## Central Investigations Unit
671# Major Crimes Unit Team A
672# Major Crimes Unit Team B
673# Major Crimes Unit Team C
674# Major Crimes Unit Team D
675# License Unit
676# unused
677# CAU
678# SAIU
679# unused
68## Evidence Technicians
7000 Organizational Development & Administration
7000,1 Commander or Captains (reserved)
7002 Captain of Professional Development (reserved)
7003 Captain of Technical Services (reserved)
7004 Captain of Professional Standards (reserved)
7005-9 BOD&Admin Captains (reserved)
701# unused
702# Professional Development Supervisors
703# Technical Services Supervisors
704# Professional Standards Supervisors
705#-709# unused
71## mostly unused
72## Professional Development Section
721# Firearms Training
722# Inservice Training
723# Recruits and Field Training Unit
724# Background Investigators
725# Media Unit
726# Police Artists
727# Volunteer Services
728#-729# unused
73## Technical Services Section
731# CRU (?)
732# Headquarters
733# Identification Division & Juvenile Records
734# Warrant Unit (with exceptions)
735# Auto Pound
736# Property Clerk
737# Firearms Investigators
738# Quartermaster
739# Court Liaison
74## Professional Standards Section
74#0 Professional Standards Sergeants
8000 Special Operation Section
800# SOS Command
81## Bomb Squad
82## SCUBA Squad
83## Emergency Task Force
84## Mobile Field Force
85## Mounted Unit
86## Traffic Enforcement Unit
87## Youth Services
89## K-9 Unit
9000 Special Events
91#0 Event One Supervisor
92#0 Event Two Supervisor
93#0 Event Three Supervisor
94#0 Event Four Supervisor
95#0 Event Five Supervisor
96#0 Event Six Supervisor
97#0 Event Seven Supervisor
98#0 Event Eight Supervisor
99#0 Event Nine Supervisor

Notes

1. Units are assigned system numbers but use GRANET # on the air.
2. For most patrol-related units, 1st digit=Side; 2nd digit=Rank; 3rd digit=Unit; 4th digit 1-5=Platoon/6-9=extras
3. PAC-TAC teams use very high number blocks within their patrol areas.
4. NET Sectors indicated by 3rd digit, Rank/Platoon by 4th digit (0=Lt, 2-5=Platoon, 6-9=extras)

Rochester PD Radio Codes

The Situation Found codes were added for statistical purposes.  When jobs are
cleared via radio, officers generally say something like, "Code 40 
found 82".  Most assignments are now cleared via MDT.

 Action Code				Situation Found
 1	Crime Report			51	Delayed Report
 2	MVA Report			52	Crime in Progress
 3	Missing Person Report		53	Civil Case
 4	Investigative Action		54	Added Information
 5	Arrest Report			55	Unable to Locate
 6	Crime & Arrest Report		56	DWI Arrest
 7	Towed Vehicle Information	57	No Cause
 8	FIF				58	All OK
 9	Incident Report			59	Miscellaneous Incident
10	Tech Work			60	Parking Problem
11	Property Report			61	Snow Emergency Parking
12	Unable to Locate - complainant	62	MVA - injuries
13	Unable to Locate - vehicle	63	MVA - hit & run
14	Unable to Locate - victim	64	MVA - no injuries
15	Avoidable Alarm Report		65	School Crossing Detail
16	Special Criminal Investigation	66	not used
17	Referred/Assisted Other Jurisdiction	67	Traffic Violation
18	Civil Case			68	Traffic Problem
19	Service Bureau Notified		69	not used
20	Animal Control Notified		70	Missing Person Returned
21	Directed Foot Patrol		71	Missing Person
22	Moved Disabled Vehicle		72	Lost/Found Property
23	not used			73	Crime Prevention
24	Moved Vehicle			74	Natural Death
25	Suspicious Vehicle		75	Suicide or Attempt
26	Suspicious Person		76	Firearms Incident
27	Routine Illness			77	Medical Problem
28	Agreed to Desist		78	Mental
29	Dispersed			79	No other code fits situation
30	Gone on Arrival			80	Fight
31	Premise Check			81	Child Abuse/Neglect
32	Special Attention		82	Domestic
33	not used			83	Neighbor or Landlord-Tenant
34	Assisted Other Unit		84	Customer Trouble
35	Cancel				85	Disorderly Person
36	Security Survey			86	Noise Problem
37	Personal Break			87	Animal Problem
38	Lunch Break			88	Suspicious Condition
39	No Arrest on Warrant		89	not used
40	Services Rendered		90	Request for Information
41	Transport or Escort		91	Assisted Other Agency
42	Matters Adjusted		92	Bomb Threat
43	Administrative Detail		93	Fire 
44	No Cause			94	Dangerous Condition
45	Notify Not Made			95	Defective/Accidental Alarm
46	Notify Made			96	Vice Activity
47	Citations Issued		97	Prostitution
48	Directed Patrol			98	Narcotics
49	Refused Report			99	not used
50 	Missing Person Returned - no report

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Special Codes
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Medical-500        Doesn't have a pulse. Resuscitation may or may not be started.
Surgical-500       Doesn't have a pulse. Caused by trauma.
Precautionary-500  Very close to a full 500.
980                Dead on arrival. Confirmed person dead.

with thanks to NF2G.com