Behind the Badge: Administration provides critical support for TPD operations

A uniformed officer in a patrol car is probably the first thing that comes to mind when most people think police, but behind the scenes, the Temple Police Department’s Administration Bureau is constantly working to keep the department running.

“Our Administration Bureau is responsible for many of the daily functions of our police department,” Deputy Chief Allen Teston said. “They take care of many of the logistical aspects of the department so our field officers can concentrate on making Temple a place residents love to call home.”

DC Teston and Lt. Paul Newby oversee the Administration Bureau, which consists of several units:

  • Training
  • Professional Standards
  • Crime Analysis
  • Customer Service Technicians
  • Records
  • Logistics and Fleet
  • Maintenance
  • Court Officer
  • Animal Control

Customer Service Technicians, or CSTs, are the first point of interaction for residents who call or come to the police department. These individuals answer non-emergency calls, dispatch officers and interact with the public.

“Our CSTs must quickly assess situations to get residents the help they need. They also provide vital information for officers who are arriving on scenes,” Newby said. “They juggle several different tasks at once and do so exceptionally.”

Seven individuals make up the department’s Records Unit, which is responsible for organizing and completing important documents. The Records Unit assists officers with all reports, supplemental materials and the sex offender registry. The unit also assists the public with requests for copies of police reports which are often needed for insurance or record-keeping purposes.

“Every report officers turn in must be completed in a specific way and in a timely manner,” Newby said. “The Records Unit must not only process these documents, but also make sure they’re done so accurately.”

It’s also the responsibility of the Administration Bureau to ensure officers have the training and equipment they need to serve the community.

“We never want to put a police officer in a position they aren’t prepared for,” Newby said. “Our training unit works diligently with new officers to make sure they’re comfortable before hitting the streets, and with veteran officers to make sure they’re up to date on necessary training.”

Professional Standards handles all complaints, commendations and internal investigations involving department members.

“We want to proactively hold ourselves accountable,” Teston said. “When we hear of officers violating policy – either internally or from an outside source – we take that very seriously and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. We also want to celebrate and commend our officers who go above and beyond in making our community safe and our residents feel respected and valued.”

Though their work largely goes unseen, the dozens of employees who make up the Administration Bureau provide invaluable services to the Temple Police Department and the residents they serve.

 

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