Divisions Within the Police Department
The Administration Division is responsible for the management of the daily operations of the Police Department and its 135 full-time employees and 18 part-time employees. In addition, the Administration Division manages the fiscal budget, payroll, state licensing, website and grants. All policies, procedures, department goals and objectives are implemented through this division.
The Animal Control Division is responsible for the care and custody of all impounded animals, responding to calls for service, quarantining animals, investigating reports of cruelty and enforcing animal ordinance violations. The Animal Control Division aggressively seeks good homes for all adoptable animals. Each year, the Animal Shelter holds a Pet Fair to find loving homes for adoptable animals, educate the public on responsible pet ownership, and provide an on-site vaccination clinic. The Animal Control Shelter is located at 1809 Reliance Parkway, Bedford, Texas 76021. For more information on licensing, enforcement, hours of operation or other animal related issues, please feel free to contact the Shelter at 817.952.2191.
The Community Services Division, a unit of the Professional Standards Division, is responsible for providing citizens of Bedford with superior programs and services. Many of these programs focus on educating the community about crime and how to deter its occurrence.
The following programs are offered through the Community Services Division:
Citizens Police Academy - Are you interested in learning more about the Police Department? The Citizens Police Academy course is a twelve week program designed to give you a more detailed look into the inter-workings of the Police Department. To find out more about this FREE course, please contact the Community Services Division at 817.952.2444. To download an Citizens Police Academy application, click here!
Volunteer Program - The volunteer program is generally made up of members of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (graduates of the Citizens Police Academy). They are people with ideas, talents and visions of the future, working together to create a better Bedford.
Volunteers work in technical, professional and general support areas. Volunteers are assigned to several different divisions of the Police Department and report directly to the Volunteer Program Coordinator and/or the supervisor over the division in which they serve.
A broad list of volunteer opportunities exists. For more information on our Volunteer Program, please contact T.Sgt. Randy Gardner at 817.952.2444 or via e-mail by
Crime Watch - The Community Services Division offers a Crime Watch Program that provides communities information on security hardware, crime trends, when to call the police and how neighbors watching out for neighbors can decrease criminal activity in a neighborhood. For more information on how you can establish a Crime Watch Program in your neighborhood, contact the Community Services Division at 817.952.2444.
Residential Security Surveys - The Community Services Division offers a service called Residential Security Surveys. This survey consists of an officer coming out to your home to inspect your doors, windows, shrubbery around windows, etc. for key points to deter crime. This inspection is done once every three years and upon passing this inspection, the homeowner is entitled to financial discounts from their homeowners insurance provider. To find out more information about a Residential Security Survey, please contact the Community Services Division at 817.952.2444.
The Criminal Investigations Division is responsible for investigating all crimes against property and/or persons, special and undercover operations to include narcotic, gang activities, gambling, organized crime, etc. In addition, this Division is responsible for the collection of crime scene data, processing all fingerprints and photographs and researching all pawn shop transactions. Click here to help the Criminal Investigations Division with an unsolved murder case. For information on Crime Victim's Compensation, click here.
The Detention Services Division is responsible for the care of all incarcerated prisoners and the maintenance of the Detention Facility. The Detention Services Division also provide housing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees. In addition to the Detention Facility, this Division oversees the daily maintenance of the entire Law Enforcement Center.
Prisoner Visitation Hours - 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily - visitations can be restricted at any time due to manpower or other issues within the Detention Facility
Payment - The Detention Facility only accepts bonds, cash or Visa/Mastercard. NO CHECK ACCEPTED.
The Dispatch Division is responsible for the management of the entire emergency, public safety and after-hour city services communications. This includes, but is not limited to, receiving and dispatching 9-1-1, police, fire, EMS and Animal Control calls for service.
Internal Affairs is a component of the Professional Standards Division and is tasked with receiving and investigating citizen complaints and internal investigations that are assigned by the Police Chief. The Internal Affairs responsibility is to receive a complaint, conduct an impartial investigation, make an unbiased disposition and correct any misconduct that may be found. The citizen's responsibility is to report the facts as clearly as possible, as soon as possible, after an incident. False complaints, with a specific intent to unjustly subject a police employee to undeserved discipline or slander, or to place his/her employment status in jeopardy, can result in criminal charges being sought. Our police officers and employees are carefully selected and given the best training possible in order to provide the community with superior service. With this in mind, citizens may also have an occasion to let an employee's supervisor know how well he/she performed their duties. Click here to let us know if one of our employees performed their duties in a manner that exemplifies the high standards you expect from this agency.
How to Make a Complaint:
1. On-line - Click here to obtain a complaint form
2. By Phone - Speak to an on-duty police supervisor by calling 817.952.2440 (24-hours a day)
3. In Person - Stop by the Bedford Police Department at 2121 L. Don Dodson Drive, Bedford, Texas 76021
4. Speak to an Internal Affairs Investigator - Between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), you can contact the Internal Affairs Division directly by phone at 817.952.2407
5. Email Internal Affairs - Send a detailed e-mail with contact information to Lt. Biff Schuessler by
The Patrol Division encompasses the largest number of personnel in the Police Department. The Patrol Division's primary responsibilities are responding to calls for service and providing preventative neighborhood patrols. In addition, the Patrol Division utilizes volunteers who serve as Police Reserve Officers and can assist the Patrol Division in their daily operation.
The Professional Standards Division encompasses several components of the Police Department: Internal Affairs, Recruiting, Training, Community Services, School Resource Officers, Public Service Officers and School Crossing Guards. See our Employment page for Recruiting information.
Front Desk/Public Service Officers
The Public Service Officers (PSO) are responsible for the following duties:
1. Front Desk - Receive all walk-in visitors, take walk-in and phone-in offense/incident reports
2. Fingerprinting - Provide fingerprinting services to the public at a fee of $10 per card
3. Code Enforcement - Provide code enforcement duties in the field for vehicles that are deemed inoperable, junk, etc.
The Public Service Officers can be reached by phone at 817.952.2440
The Records and Property Division is responsible for entering all offense/incidents, arrest and accident reports into the Department's records management system, the management and retention of said records, open record requests and the storage and protection of all property and evidence. In addition, this Division is responsible for the management of the City's business and residential alarm permit program.
Accident Reports - $6.00
All Other Reports - $.10 per page, if over 10 pages
Residential Alarm Permits - $50/annually
Business Alarm Permits - $100/annually
The Traffic Division is responsible for reducing accidents and providing education on occupant safety. In addition, this Division is charged with the responsibility of gaining compliance of state traffic laws and city ordinances through selective traffic enforcement programs. The Traffic Division increased its efforts in 1998 with the expansion of the motorcycle program.
Home | Employment | Police Services | Animal Services | General Information | Contact Us