UCPD Field Operations

The Field Operation's Division is the largest of the two police department divisions. The division is commanded by one of the department's two captains. The Field Operations Division consists primarily of uniformed personnel, who provide most of the typical police services, including patrol, traffic, and miscellaneous community services.

The division is comprised of the following sections and units:

Patrol

Patrol is the largest unit within the Police Department. Patrol is the cornerstone of the Police Department. These are the officers out in the community responding to calls for service day and night, maintaining order, ensuring safe traffic flow, and the overall sense of security and well being for the community.

Personnel assigned to the Patrol Section are trained to handle anything from a simple parking complaint to an in-progress assault with a deadly weapon. They are dedicated to perform their assignments as professionals, even under the most difficult circumstances. Patrol personnel are responsible for keeping abreast of all internal Department policies and procedures intended to help them perform their job more efficiently.

Patrol personnel are charged with the responsibility of applying law enforcement solutions to complicated community problems. Patrol personnel give life to the philosophy of Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) in their day-to-day operations. It is the responsibility of patrol personnel to apply available Department resources to their fullest potential.

The Department operates a fleet of 50 vehicles, including marked and unmarked cars, patrol supervisor'sSUV's, motorcycles, dedicated canine cars, prisoner transport and multi-purpose vans, community service aide vehicles, an animal control truck, a SWAT armored truck, Traffic/Parking Enforcement vehicles, and a crime scene evidence recovery vehicle.

Traffic Law Update

The driving laws for California change frequently and the public is usually the last to know. Our goal is to provide an update in proposed or recently enacted traffic laws to members of the community in a timely manner. The following laws were taken from the vehicle code. If you need additional information pertaining to driving rules and regulations you can visit the California Department of Motor Vehicles at www.dmv.ca.gov

Rules Of The Road

• Did you know that effective July 1, 2005 you are required to drive with your headlamps on during inclement weather? This is a friendly reminder to turn your headlamps on during rain, fog, mist, snow, or other precipitation or atmospheric moisture.

Driver’s License Restrictions

• Vehicle Section 12814.6 Prohibits a provisional licensee from carrying passengers under the age of 20, unless accompanied by a licensed parent/guardian, licensed/certified instructor or a licensed driver 25 years of age or older, during the first 12 months (previously six months) the driver is licensed.

• Prohibits a provisional licensee from driving between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. (currently 12 midnight and 5 a.m.).

Speed Contest
• Increases the jail time to a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of six months in jail when a person is found guilty of engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest and the driver causes injury to someone other than himself. If it is a second or subsequent offense and serious bodily injury occurs, the jail time is increased to a maximum of one year.

Field Training

All newly hired Union City police officers, new to law enforcement o a transfer from another police agency, required to complete our Field Training Program. The purpose of the program is to ensure that new police officers understand how to effectively apply what they were taught in the basic police academy, and to ensure they understand the policies and procedures of the Union City Police Department.

Union City uses a five phase, sixteen-week training program, which includes a two-week orientation phase, three four-week training phases with a dedicated field training officer (FTO) assisgned to the recruit, and a two-week shadow phase in which the FTO is in an oberservation mode to evaluate the recruit's performance and determine whether the recruit is ready for solo patrol.

Canine (K-9) Unit

In July of 1994, the Union City Police Department developed and implemented a police canine program to assist patrol officers on the street. The department currently has two canines on patrol.

K-9 Greif (pronounced "Grife"), is a three year old German Shepherd, brought to the United States by Witmer-Tyson Imports. Greif joined the Union City Police Department in May 2003 and is partnered with his handler, Officer Keith Pini.

K-9 Axel is a two-year-old German Shepherd, and is also an import from Germany. Axel's handler is Officer Bob Kensic.

Greif and Axel are used in the locating and apprehension of violent misdemeanor and felony suspects, as well as in the search of missing adults and children.

A multi-agency agreement between our neighboring police agencies is in place to ensure that a police canine is immediately available should the need arise. The primary function of the canine is the searching of residences, warehouses and businesses within the city when it is suspected that the location has been the target of a burglary and a suspect may be concealed inside.

The canines are very popular with the hundreds of school children within the City, and frequently make appearances at schools and various city-sponsored events.

The canine teams participate in on-going monthly training along with canine teams from the Newark and Fremont Police Departments, as well as teams from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department.

The canines live in the home of the handler when off-duty. The handlers are responsible for the feeding, caring, and maintenance of their dogs.

Special Weapons & Tactics (SWAT) Team

The Union City SWAT Team is comprised of a 12-member tactical response team supported by a hostage negotiation team (HNT). The team is supervised by two team leaders and two assistant team leaders. The tactical team includes two trained sniper/observer positions.

Tactical team members are selected through a competitive selection process consisting of a physical fitness test, firearms proficiency, an oral interview, and a psychological test. Newly selected team members must successfully complete a two-week basic SWAT school along with ongoing in-house training.

The tactical team attends 12 hours of training every month. The snipers train an additional 4 hours a month. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the tactical team receives additional training in civil disturbance and terrorist incident response. Training is the responsibility of the team leaders and assistance team leaders, who develop and facilitate training with outside agencies.

SWAT is prepared to respond to crisis situations including barricaded suspects, hostage rescues, natural disasters, and civil disturbances.

Community Services

The Community Services section is comprised of the Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (COPPS) unit, the Union Landing Shopping Complex team, the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, and the Police Activites League (PAL)/Leisure Services officer.

Community Oriented Policing & Problem Solving (COPPS) Unit

The COPPS unit officers have a variety of responsibilities and are involved in several programs that include, but are not limited to, Crime Prevention, Nuisance Abatement through the Community Health Action Team (CHAT), and Neighborhood Dispute Mediation.

The Crime Prevention Program provides such services as residential and commercial security surveys, presentations to community groups on crime prevention and related topics, coordinating neighborhood watch programs and providing statistical data to the public on request.

Members of CHAT are comprised of Police, Neighborhood Preservation, Fire, Building, Public Works and Alameda County Housing personnel who work together to find solutions to issues affecting the quality of life in our communities.

The COPPS unit is often instrumental in resolving neighborhood disputes within the city. These disputes can range from chronic barking dog complaints to neighbors disputing over a property fence line. The COPPS unit also routinely participates in crime prevention and neighborhood watch presentations to various groups and organizations.

The COPPS unit is also responsible for the coordination of the Department's involvement in a variety of community events including, St. Anne's Festival, Our Lady of the Rosary Festival and the annual Health Science & Earth Fair.

The police officers currently assigned to the COPPS unit are Sergeant Mark Quindoy, Officer Kirk Wu, Officer Mike Yaeger, Officer Manny Leon, Officer Czar Valdehueza.

Union Landing Detachment

The Union Landing Shopping Complex Policing Team consists of one Corporal and two Officers. The team works out of the Police Sub-Station that is located across from the Century 25movie theaters, next to Fuddruckers Restaurant.

The Union Landing team is responsible for the overall security of the complex. Besides investigating all crimes and incidents that occur in the complex, they also assist merchants with loss prevention and general security needs.

The officers assigned to Union Landing patrol the complex in several ways. You will find them patrolling on foot, in patrol vehicles, on bicycles and in our new "Think Neighbor" low speed electric police vehicle.

The officers currently assigned to Union Landing are Corporal Mark Houseley, Officer Lisa Graetz and Officer Dennis Benitez.

School Resource Officers

The School Resource Officer program is a cooperative effort with the New Haven Unified School District and the City of Union City. The program currently consists of two officers who are assigned to the James Logan High School campus and one officer assigned to the Connolly-Carabello Continuation High School with the assistance of the Police Activities League Officer who is assigned to the campus on Mondays to provide five day coverage. The New Haven Unified School District and the City of Union City share the expense of the officers with the school district providing funding equal to one-half the salary and benefits for a ten (10) month period each year.

The current School Resource Officers are Paul Kanazeh, Howard Baron, and Ariel San Pedro, with the assistance of Officer Wayne Chapman as our (PAL) officer.

Police Activities League (PAL) / Leisure Services

The City of Union City Police Activities League (UCPAL) was started in 1995 to provide an alternate source of events and activities for at risk and other youth. The goal was to develop a program, which utilized the resources from the City of Union City Leisure Services and Police Department, the New Haven Unified School District and the public through volunteers.

PAL provides several activities including boxing, UC tackle football and three on three basketball. PAL also coordinates several community events including the annual Science Festival at Logan High School, the Northern California Chevy-GMC truck show at Kennedy Park and 49er flag football and basketball events.

Current programs under consideration are street hockey, girls softball, a computer and tech club and an after school resource center. All funding is provided through community and private grants usually generated by the executive director and program coordinator. UCPAL is a non-profit organization and is guided by an executive board.

Resource Centers

The City's two Resource Centers, located on each side of town, became fully functional during 1998.

Located on the west side of the City at 4361 Agena Circle, The Alvarado Resource Center hosts several community based organizations which include: Leisure Services After School Program, Alameda County Juvenile Probation, California Technical Care (CTC), Boy Scouts of America, and Mental Health Association of Alameda County.

Located on the east side of the City at 6th St and E St., Centro De Servicios/Decoto Resource Center hosts a variety of services including: Legal Aide, Immigration-Naturalization services, Adult Literacy, Parenting Classes, Healthy Start and Food Distribution.

If you are affiliated with a community-based organization and are interested in learning more about the Resource centers, feel free to contact our unit at (510) 471-1365 ext. 244.

Traffic Section

The Traffic Section iscomprised of three motor officers under the direct supervision of a traffic sergeant. A Lieutenant has administrative responsibilities over the section. The primary responsibility of the traffic section is traffic enforcement duties and collision investigation. The Traffic Section provides selective traffic enforcement at various locations throughout the City and twelve (12) school locations at the request of the community members, School District personnel and City officials.

The Traffic Section participates in the Tri-City Accident Investigation Team (TAIT). The team is comprised of officers from Fremont, Newark, and Union City. The TAIT Team investigates injury collisions involving emergency vehicles from any of the three cities, as well as State and Federal vehicles.

The Traffic Section obtained a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety to conduct two sobriety checkpoints, DUI patrols, and DUI enforcement training.

Members of the Traffic Section aggressively enforce the City Council established truck routes. They participate in a County Commercial Task Force comprised of members of the California Highway Patrol and the following police departments: Alameda, Dublin, Fremont, Hayward, Pleasanton, and San Leandro. The task force conducts safety inspections of commercial vehicles as well as enforces weight and size laws. Commercial enforcement is intended to increase safety through inspection and to reduce the money spent on street repair due to overloaded trucks or trucks operating on streets not intended for their gross weight.

Animal Services Unit

The Animal Services unit is comprised of one Public Services Officer and one part-time employee.