Divisions and Units
The Niles Police Department is a full-service police agency,
providing police protection to a city of approximately 13,000
residents and a land area of approximately 6 square miles. Niles is
a growing and culturally diverse community. The Niles Police
Department currently employs 32 full-time persons, 23 sworn officers
and 9 civilian employees, including 7 dispatchers.
Volunteers in Police Services
Crime Scene
Investigation Unit
Special Response Team
Detective Bureau
Dispatch Center
K-9 Unit
Patrol Operators
Records Bureau
Reserves
This unit contains specially trained officers who
assist in collecting evidence at crime scenes. These officers
assist in recognizing, collecting, processing, and packaging
evidence. They have received training in the following
evidence disciplines: DNA, fingerprints, footwear / tire tracks,
trace evidence, bullet trajectory, blood spatter, and arson
evidence.
An evidence processing room is located inside the
Law Enforcement Complex. This room has all the necessary
equipment to process and then package any evidence collected at
crime scenes. The unit works closely with the State Police
Crime Labs who may then analyze the evidence.
Vehicle Crash Scene Investigation
Officers who assist in investigating serious injury or fatal traffic
crashes have specialized training. These officers respond to
crashes to document, analyze, and re-construct the sequence of
events. Officers investigate what happened before the crash,
during the crash, and after the crash. Many times the
direction of travel, speed, cause of the crash, and sequence of
events can be determined.  Special Response Team
(S.R.T.)
Niles' Special Response Team is a multi-jurisdictional task force
designed to handle serious emergency situations. The team is
composed of officers who are extensively trained in the use of
special weapons and tactics. This team is called upon to handle
emergencies such as hostage or barricaded suspect situations,
high-risk warrant services, and other situations involving
anticipated extreme danger. S.R.T. members are also trained and used
to assist in the protection of visiting dignitaries. For more
information on the S.R.T click
here.
Detective Bureau
Members of the detective bureau investigate crimes such as:
homicides and suspicious deaths, child molesting and sexual
assaults, complex frauds, and pattern armed robberies and
burglaries, to name a few. The detective bureau is also part of a
multi-jurisdictional task force monitoring drug activity throughout
Berrien and the surrounding counties. The detective bureau also
investigates gang-related activity in and around the City of Niles.
 Dispatch
Center
Trained
telecommunication personnel answer all 911 calls from the City of
Niles, and dispatch the appropriate public safety personnel, be it
police, fire, or ambulance. The dispatch center is also responsible
for activating the Emergency Broadcasting Network in the event of
natural or man-made disasters, communicating with officers in the
field, and maintaining computer links with state and federal
criminal justice networks.
K-9 Unit
The
K-9 Unit used by the Niles Police Department is trained to track
fugitives, search buildings for suspects and drugs, search out
accident victims or lost persons, and to protect their handlers from
harm at the hands of criminals.
Patrol Operations
Patrol operations is the largest and most visible arm of the
police department. Officers of the patrol operations respond to
calls for assistance from the public, investigate traffic accidents,
and keep the peace. These officers also are called upon to enforce
traffic laws, assist motorists and enforce criminal laws and city
ordinances.
Records
Bureau
The Records Bureau maintains all of the files for the police
department, enters reports and crime data into computer databases,
assists the public with obtaining copies of police reports, and
serves as a first contact point for persons entering the department.
The Records Bureau of the Niles Police Department charges a fee
for the following services:
- Copy of Report
- Fingerprints ( Monday-Friday only)
- Vehicle Identification Number Check
- Criminal History Check
- Gun Permit Application
- Notary Service
The Records Bureau is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to
5:00 pm.
Reserves
The Niles Police Department has fifteen volunteer police
officers. These citizens assist full-time officers with
routine patrol and special details during parades, festivals and
other events.
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