Police Officer
The Law Enforcement Division is the largest division within the agency. Along with daily patrol functions, the primary functions include, but are not limited to, response to calls for service, preventative patrol, crime prevention and suppression, criminal apprehension and prosecution, report writing, court testimony, traffic control, direction and enforcement, crisis intervention and the development of relationships within the community and with our citizens, merchants and businesses, and visitors. The Law Enforcement Division is charged with the responsibility of providing 24-hour-a-day police service, every day of the year.
All new officers receive extensive training. To be certified as a police officer in the State of Florida, an individual must complete a minimum of 770 hours of basic recruit training provided by a certified police academy training center. After completing the basic recruit training, the aspiring officer must pass a state examination on the principles and techniques learned in the police academy. A new officer must complete the basic training and pass the state examination before being certified as a law enforcement officer in Florida.
Once an officer is certified and employed by the Auburndale Police Department, they are integrated into the Field Training Program and assigned to a series of Field Training Officers. Upon successful completion of a minimum of 17 weeks in the Field Training Program, the new officer is then assigned to solo duty on one of the patrol squads.
All agency members must complete a one (1) year probationary period. Once an officer has successfully completed probation and has completed certain required advanced training classes, the officer may be eligible to transfer into other areas of the department. Some of these areas include:
Criminal Investigations Unit
K-9 Unit
Traffic and Marine Unit
Professional Standards Unit
Special Enforcement Unit
