Senora Valley Police Department

The Senora Valley Police Department (SVPD) is a regional law enforcement agency who operates within Blaine County, San Andreas. The SVPD primarily serves the towns of Sandy Shores, Grapeseed and the village of Harmony. The SVPD also patrols the rural areas of Blaine County and works in coordination with other area departments with policing the highway.

The current Chief of Police is Francis Peters who is currently the interim Chief of Police as of September 20, 2023. Following the retirement of Chief Van Tranh who had served the department for 30 years.

## History

The Senora Valley Police Department was founded on August 15, 1947, following a vote the year prior by residents within Blaine County to establish a new police department. The SVPD was also formed due to an increase in crime and with the establishment of new towns within the region. The Blaine County Sheriff's Office generally patrolled rural areas and ran the county jail, but residents wanted a department to police more urban areas of the county.

In 1949, the SVPD formed a Major Crimes Bureau who would investigate all homicides and violent crimes within the Senora Valley region. In 1950, the department created a traffic unit who would work with the San Andreas State Police and San Andreas Highway Patrol with vehicle accidents and traffic enforcement. Following a rise in violent crime across the county, a tactical unit was formed in 1970. The SVPD would form a Vice Unit to combat illegal drugs and with busting drug dealers in 1978. A specialized anti-crime unit was formed in 1981 and was called at the time the Combating Aggressive Suspects Team (CAST) which was responsible for conducting warrant checks, policing high crime zones and with pro-active policing. In 1988, all SVPD patrol cars were outfitted with dashcams.

In 1992, the SVPD adopted the Glock Model 22 Gen 2 .40 S&W handgun to replace the Smith & Wesson Model 66-2 .357 magnum revolvers that entered service in 1984. In 1993, the SVPD formed an alliance with the San Andreas State Bureau of Investigation, in which both agencies would work with each other in investigations and with combating crime in the region. The SVPD would also go on to form a specialized policing relationship with the Blaine County Sheriff's Office in 1994 and both assist each other with patrols and investigations as well.

In 2002, the Senora Valley Police Department switched to the Glock Model 21C Gen 3 .45 ACP for the new sidearm. The change was due to the department wanting more stopping power for officers to have when on-duty. In 2004, the SVPD formed a Counterterrorism Unit following the tragic events of September 11, 2001. In 2009, the SVPD adopted Tasers for use by both Patrol and Traffic Units, as an effort to move toward less-lethal options for officers to have.

In 2012, the Glock Model 21SF Gen 3 .45 ACP was purchased as the new sidearm for the department, it would be issued with a TLR-1 tactical flashlight and night sights attached to each handgun. In 2015, the SVPD purchased bodycams for Patrol and Traffic Unit officers to help with improving transparency with the general public. In 2018, bodycams became standard for all uniformed officers and units within the SVPD. In 2019, the department made it policy to release bodycam footage of a critical incident within 30 days of the incident happening.

In 2020, the SVPD purchased helmet cams for all members of the Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Emergency Response Team (ERT). In 2021, all detectives and special assignment officers were issued bodycams to help with increased transparency. Since 2021, the department has expanded its involvement in responding to calls and with specialized units to increase public safety.

In September of 2023, Chief of Police Van Tranh retired from the department following 30 years of service. Chief Tranh had been the Chief of Police since February 13, 2019, following the then retirement of Chief Williams. The department chose Francis Peters as the interim Chief of Police who will serve in the role until a permanent Chief of Police is found or he is given an official job offer. Peters prior to the position served with the San Andreas State Bureau of Investigation and was in charge of their tactical operations along with special investigations involving gangs and combating illegal gun crimes.

Interim Chief of Police Peters confirmed that the department would continue its modernization and other plans that were in the making under Chief Tranh, under his leadership as Interim Chief. Interim Chief of Police Peters also plans on adding some of his own beliefs to the department such as aggressive policing when combating drunk drivers with more traffic enforcement and with combating the drug epidemic in Blaine County.

## Chief's of Police

* Francis Peters (2023-Present)
* Van Tranh (2019-2023)
* Jermaine Williams (2014-2019)
* Carl Newman (2008-2014)
* Jason Peters (2000-2008)
* Paul Gilman (1989-2000)
* Isaac Augustine (1976-1989)
* J.R Gosar (1961-1976)
* Paul Stuart (1955-1961)
* Kevin Marcelo (1947-1955)

## Equipment

The standard issue sidearm for the department is the Glock Model 21SF Gen 3 .45 ACP handgun, equipped with night sights and a tactical flashlight. In 2023, the department announced that they would begin to look for a replacement for the Glock Model 21SF Gen 3 which entered service in 2013. The replacement handgun most likely will be a 9mm according to the department and they are looking at models from Glock, Heckler & Koch, SIG Sauer and Smith & Wesson.

Since 2017, the department has also allowed new recruits and officers to choose the Glock Model 17M Gen 5 9mm handgun with a tactical flashlight as an alternative to the Glock Model 21SF Gen 3, if they wish to do so. The Glock Model 17M isn't issued by the department but is acquired through a distributor based out of Sandy Shores and approved for use by the SVPD due to the Glock Model 17M being used by the FBI.

The Colt AR 6536 AR-15 A2 5.56x45mm is the standard issue patrol rifle for the SVPD and is equipped with a tactical flashlight. The Benelli M4 Super 90 12 gauge is the standard issue shotgun for the department, however the Mossberg M590A1 shotgun is also used by the department as well.

## Emergency Response Team (ERT)

The Emergency Response Team is a rapid deployment tactical unit who can respond quickly to a critical incident. The ERT was formed on April 07, 1970, following a rise in crime and to provide the SVPD with a well-trained and armed tactical unit. The ERT generally responds to scenes in unmarked patrol vehicles but also has access to an armored vehicle for when responding to high risk situations. The ERT also uses specialized equipment which differs from the standard equipment issued to regular officers, to meet the needs of their duties.

Officers assigned to the ERT wear a more tactical uniform and have more equipment in their vehicles when on patrol, in addition to more tactical training. The ERT specializes in crowd control, tactical entry and with conducting high risk search warrants. The ERT also responds to crimes involving firearms such as active shooters and when an armed suspect is on the loose, they help with the manhunts. Members of the ERT generally use department issued equipment but also have access to other equipment as well such as more modified weapons and have access to flashbang grenades along with other tactical gear in their vehicles.

## Special Operations Group (SOG)

The Special Operations Group is an elite tactical unit who specializes in counterterrorism along with responding to active shooters and mass casualty incidents. The SOG was formed on September 11, 2004, as a homage to the events of September 11, 2001. The unit however was trained by members of the FBI HRT and FBI SWAT in addition to former members of US Delta Force.

The unit takes longer to deploy given the equipment they use as well as debriefing before each operation. The SOG wears an all camouflage outfit with tactical gear such as a bulletproof helmet and a plate carrier. The SOG maintains an armored vehicle but also has an armored APC in their inventory as well as a helicopter.

The SOG currently uses the following equipment:

* Staccato P 9mm
* Heckler & Koch MP5A3 9mm
* Heckler & Koch G36C 5.56x45mm
* SIG Sauer MCX Virtus SBR .300 AAC Blackout
* Remington Model 870 MCS 12 gauge
* Remington Model 700 7.62x51mm
* Barrett M82 .50 BMG

## Ranks

* Chief of Police
* Assistant Chief of Police
* Deputy Chief of Police
* Commander
* Captain
* Lieutenant
* Sergeant
* Detective
* Corporal
* Officer

## Divisions

* Aviation Division
* Crime Suppression Unit (CSU)
* Emergency Response Team (ERT)
* Felony Interception and Narcotics Detection (F.I.N.D)
* Gang Suppression Unit (GSU)
* Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (HEAT)
* K-9 Unit
* Major Crimes Bureau (MCB)
* Patrol Division
* Special Operations Group (SOG)
* Street Crimes Unit (SCU)
* Traffic Enforcement Unit