Del Perro Police Department

The Del Perro Police Department (DPPD) is the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Del Perro located in Los Santos County. The DPPD is a fully equipped and trained law enforcement agency who can respond to a volume of different incidents.

The current Chief of Police is Steve Williams, who has held the position since 2020.

## History

The Del Perro Police Department was created on August 25, 1891 by then Mayor Lewis Duke (1855-1937). The early department history mainly consisted of a growing police force who combated a various range of crimes from robberies, murders and horse thefts until around 1905. In 1911, the department began increasing their vehicle patrols along with improving the training of the officers. In 1930, the department had integrated a Detective Unit along with a Traffic Unit due to a rise in vehicles and crimes.

During the 1940's and 1950's, the DPPD combated a rise in organized crime with a rise in motels which were hotspots for mafia activity. In the 1960's the DPPD created a Riot Squad to combat a rise in protest and with the Civil Rights movement at the time. In 1971, the DPPD formed a SWAT unit to combat a rise in armed robberies, armed suspects and a few hostage situations that occurred. In 1975, the department increased undercover police operations to combat a rise in illegal activities and drug manufacturing within the city.

In 1981, the department invested in a Vice Squad who would conduct special investigations and combat the rise in drug use. The Vice Squad would include well trained officers who were trained in the knowledge of drugs. The DPPD would invest in a Gang Unit in 1987, following a rise in gang crime which included gangs from Davis who would come to Del Perro to relax at the beaches and motels which would lead to gang fights and or disturbances.

In 1990, the DPPD adopted the Smith & Wesson Model 5906 9mm as the standard issue handgun which would be issued to officers. Prior, the DPPD issued the Colt Python .357 Magnum revolver as the sidearm which entered service in 1977. The Smith & Wesson Model 5906 was favored for having a standard 15 round magazine and all officers would be issued 2 spare magazines on their belt as well.

In the 1990's the department increased the hiring standards along with their training due to the growth of the city to include several major companies and businesses. In 2002, the department formed a Counterterrorism division following the 9/11 attacks, to ensure that they could investigate any possible threats before they became an actual incident. In 2005, the DPPD increased the pay for all officers and also got an increased budget in 2006.

In 2008, the DPPD adopted the Heckler & Koch USP40 .40 S&W as the department issued handgun, replacing the Smith & Wesson Model 5906 9mm which had been in service for 18 years. The department changed weapons due to Smith & Wesson not producing the Model 5906 and also due to the better ballistics of the .40 S&W at the time. In 2009, the DPPD purchased the X26 Taser for all Patrol and Traffic unit officers so they could have another less-lethal option on their duty belts.

In 2015, the DPPD considered getting bodycams to increase transparency, however the City Council approved the decision but also had concerns about the storage of all of the footage. In March of 2017, the DPPD got the funds to purchase bodycams and to store all of the footage as well. The DPPD would purchase the Axon brand of bodycam which would be issued to all officers by January 2018.

## Divisions

* Accident Reconstruction Team
* Aviation Unit
* Critical Intervention Team (Mental Health & Crisis Unit)
* Counterterrorism Division
* Detective Bureau
* K-9 Unit
* Patrol Division
* Special Investigation Unit (SIU)
* Special Response Team (SRT)
* Traffic Unit
* Water Patrol Division

## Chief's of Police

* Steve Williams (2020-Present)
* Ramon Diaz (2015-2020)
* Chuck Monroe (2009-2015)
* Jerome Terry (2002-2009)
* Paul Leonard (1989-2002)
* Thomas Raymond (1976-1989)
* Oscar Moore (1966-1976)
* L.K Wright (1950-1966)
* John Johnston (1941-1950)
* Carl Weston (1925-1941)
* T.K Young (1912-1925)
* C.J Lewiston (1891-1912)

## Equipment

All officers are issued an ASP Baton, OC Spray and an X2 Taser which they carry for less-lethal options.

The sidearm carried by officers is the Heckler & Koch USP40 .40 S&W. Detectives are issued the Heckler & Koch USP40 Compact chambered in .40 S&W.

The rifle used is the Daniel Defense DDM4 5.56x45mm and the shotgun used by the department is the Benelli M4 Super 90 12 gauge.