The Support Services Bureau is under the direction of Captain Donald Nunnery. The bureau is composed of Training, Personnel Recruitment, Records, Quartermaster Services, Building Maintenance, Payroll, Crime Prevention, Code Compliance and Accounts Payable.
Support Services Units:
Training
Education does not stop with the completion of the basic law enforcement academy. Police Officers are re-certified every four years by the completion of forty hours of mandatory retraining. Training topics that are required include Human Diversity, Domestic Violence Investigations and Juvenile Sexual Offender training.
The Training Coordinator assigns, schedules and documents all training an officer or member receives whether inside or outside of the department. Training and certification records are audited by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. Work schedule modifications along with the city’s tuition reimbursement program are two ways the department encourages all employees to continue their formal education.
The Stotz-Patterson Training Center is located on the north shore of Lake Idylwild in Winter Haven. This six-acre piece of city owned property was approved during 1998 as a Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) training site. With this certification, the department can now host authorized FDLE training courses for department employees and other law enforcement agencies. The Stotz-Patterson Training Center is fully equipped with an outdoor firearms range, Emergency Response Team (ERT) obstacle course and K-9 training course.
The Winter Haven Police Department also contracts with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to utilize training facilities at the Burnham-McCall Training Center. Members utilize the shooting range for rifle and pistol qualifications and also have access to the simulator, obstacle course and other areas vital to law enforcement training.
Code Compliance/Safe Neighborhoods
The City’s Code Compliance Division enforces the codes and ordinances that cover signage, overgrowth, junk, inoperable vehicles, improperly parked vehicles and substandard housing. The Division processes approximately 3,200 cases per year. Visit the City’s Code Compliance link HERE
Records Division FAQ
The Winter Haven Police Department utilizes a centralized records management section whose responsibilities are to maintain hard copies of all reports and to enter computer data into the Police Department’s records management computer system.
- Where do I go to get a copy of a police report?
- Are police reports available to anyone?
- Am I entitled to police report information about my neighbor’s activities?
- Can I get information about criminal activity in my neighborhood?
- May I use police report information to solicit business from the victims of crimes?
Where do I go to get a copy of a police report?
We are located on the 1st floor of the Winter Haven Police Department, 125 North Lake Silver Drive, NW, Winter Haven, Florida. The Public Records window is open Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. We are closed on all official government holidays. Copies of all police reports and documents open to public access are available from the Records Section. There is a charge of 15 cents per page for single copies and 20 cents for double-sided copies.
Are police reports available to anyone?
Yes, with very few limitations such as juvenile information, the identity of a victim of a sexual offense or domestic violence and reports containing information about open or ongoing investigations. Nearly all police reports are available to anyone.
Am I entitled to police report information about my neighbor’s activities?
Florida Public Records Law allows anyone to request police report information about any individual.
Can I get information about criminal activity in my neighborhood?
Yes. A crime activity “grid” can be run for a specific period of time.
May I use police report information to solicit business from the victims of crimes?
No. Public Records Law prohibits the use of police report information for the commercial solicitation of victims of crimes.
Other Bureaus
Uniform Services
The Uniform Services Division is the largest single division within the Uniform Services Bureau.
Investigative Services
The Investigative Services Bureau provides the City of Winter Haven with professional and skilled investigators who are available 24 hours a day