Davis Police Department

The Davis Police Department (DPD) is the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Davis, located in Los Santos County. The DPD is a fully functional and equipped police department who is responsible for protecting and serving the citizens of Davis. In recent years the DPD has been scrutinized for corruption and excessive force related issues.

The current Chief of Police is Eddie Chavez who has held the position since 2021.

## History

The Davis Police Department can be traced all the way back to 1897, when Davis was known for having a few houses and a local store. In 1897, it was referred to as the Davis Marshal's Office which was responsible for patrols and with making arrest of wanted suspects who lived within Davis. The Davis Police Department would officially be formed on August 24, 1904, when the then Mayor, Alexander Cross, wanted a police department instead of a Marshal's Office. The early years of the DPD were generally normal and officers conducting routine patrols as well as made arrests when it was necessary to do so.

As Davis grew, the rise in crime occurred and the DPD hired more officers to combat the rise in crime which during the 1920's and 1930's was organized crime as well as illegal moonshine businesses being established. During the 1940's a rise in the African American population occurred due to the political situation and with gentrification that was occurring within Los Santos County. During the Civil Rights movement, the DPD respected the protests and allowed them to proceed as long as they were peaceful as well as lawful. During the 1960's, the DPD saw a rise in Black Panthers activities which caused the department to be more aggressive in combating crime and the terrorism activities that were planned within Davis.

In the 1970's, the City of Davis saw a drop in crime due to a proactive department who also worked with the community to establish one of the first community policing initiatives within Los Santos County. However in the 1980's a rise in gangster rap and gang activities saw a rise in the crime rate in Davis which included robbery and murders. This caused the DPD to form a gang unit which would combat the gang violence and gang issues generally. The gang unit was notorious for being aggressive in their policing and often profiled suspects when on patrol. The gang unit was criticized by locals but praised by the Davis Mayor for "combating violent crimes by an means necessary to reduce crime".

In the early 1990's the DPD became known as one of the deadliest police departments due to their use of deadly force on suspects. The DPD was notorious for officer involved shootings which were always justified due to the suspects always being armed when they were shot and killed. However locals accused the DPD of planting guns on suspects to justify their use of deadly force. The DPD however maintained that the suspects were always armed due to the gang pandemic which was taking over the streets of Davis.

In the early 2000's the DPD became notorious for planting drugs during vehicle searches and with excessive force on suspects, which occurred even on routine calls. In 2002, the City Council considered disbanding the DPD but the Mayor supported the department and got enough public support to support a recall election on the City Council. The DPD was sparred but would become embroiled in a new scandal in 2005 when it was determined that the then Chief of Police, Tyrone Jones, conducted favors for the mayor and his family if they were stopped or investigated by his department. Chief Jones resigned in 2006 when the full extent of the corruption became known as did the Mayor, Tyree Willis (D). Both would be sentenced to prison in 2008 when it became known both laundered money, both were sentenced to 3 years in prison.

Since 2015, the DPD has increased transparency which includes de-escalation training and with bodycams being issued to all officers.

## Divisions

* Aviation Unit
* Crime Suppression Unit (CSU)
* Detective Bureau
* Gang Suppression Unit (GSU)
* K-9 Unit
* Patrol Division
* Special Response Team (SRT)
* Traffic Enforcement Bureau
* Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF)

## Chiefs of Police

* Eddie Garcia (2021-Present)
* Kevin Lewis (2015-2021)
* Jamal Peterson (2010-2015)
* Terry McGuire (2006-2010)
* Tyrone Jones (2003-2006)
* Felipe Garza (1995-2003)
* John Adams (1989-1995)
* C.R Douglass (1977-1989)
* Carl Weston (1967-1977)
* Edgar Lewis Jr. (1954-1967)
* William Thomas (1947-1954)
* Thomas Jones (1931-1947)
* George Conley II (1924-1931)
* Christopher Johnston (1911-1924)
* Oscar Manuel (1904-1911)
* T.K Willis (1897-1904) - Davis Marshal

## Equipment

The Davis Police Department currently uses the 2015-2018 Chevrolet Tahoe, 2015-2022 Dodge Charger and the 2021-2023 Dodge Durango as the favored police vehicles. All police vehicles are black with "Davis Police Department" on the side in white with the department badge also on the door in silver, a dark blue line is also featured on the door as well. The DPD also has the 2009-2011 Ford Crown Victoria (P71) and the 2012-2016 Chevrolet Impala which are both in the old paint scheme which was a white patrol car with "Davis Police Department" on the door in black with a yellow line and the DPD Badge on the door as well. Specialized units favor unmarked vehicles which vary as they generally do change often to keep them discrete and so the criminals can't recognize them.

All officers are also issued an X26 Taser, ASP Baton and OC Spray for their less-lethal options. All officers are armed with the SIG Sauer P226R chambered in .40 S&W, the P226R is issued with night sights and a tactical flashlight. All officers carry the P226R and generally have 2-3 spare magazines on their duty belt. The SIG Sauer SIG516 5.56x45mm is the standard patrol rifle for all officers and is issued with an optic, flashlight and a foregrip. The Remington Model 870 12 gauge is the standard issue shotgun and is outfitted with a tactical flashlight.

## DPD Special Response Team

The Davis Police Department Special Response Team (SRT) is the tactical unit who responds to critical incidents, active shooters, barricaded suspects, hostage situations and with serving high-risk warrants. The SRT also will assist with anti-crime patrols and with assisting during manhunts of wanted and or armed suspects.

The SRT generally wears a black DPD t-shirt with grey UCP Camouflage pants as the general uniform with black boots and a black plate carrier. A black tactical helmet is issued along with black gloves and a black ski-mask to protect the members of the SRT. The DPD SRT has used this uniform since 2008 but in recent years has considered updating the uniform to a Multicam camouflage which is expected to happen sometime in 2024.

Equipment:

* Glock Model 22C .40 S&W
* Kimber Custom TLE II .45 ACP
* SIG Sauer P226R .40 S&W
* Heckler & Koch MP5A3 9mm
* Colt M4A1 5.56x45mm
* SIG Sauer MCX Virtus SBR .300 AAC Blackout
* Mossberg M590A1 12 gauge
* Remington Model 700 7.62x51mm