The Communications Section is split into three shifts that provide twenty-four hour a day, seven day a week coverage. Communications personnel have the responsibility of answering incoming calls for service and 911 Emergency calls. Communications personnel dispatch uniformed officers to calls and provide the officers with the initial information regarding crime in progress. The Communications Section provides a communications link between Department personnel and the general public. The section answers and processes general and emergency 9-1-1 calls and dispatches police officers, detectives, and animal control officers to calls for service. Assistants contact citizens by telephone which improves the overall response time to a citizen’s concern, provides a better level of service, and allows officers to handle the high priority calls for service. This section processed approximately 73,000 routine telephone calls, 34,000 emergency 9-1-1 calls, 34,000 calls for Service and validated over 2,000 Municipal Court warrants during 1999.

The Records Section of the Technical Services Bureau is responsible for several functions including the dissemination of reports, distribution of subpoenas, the collection of various service fees, and monthly statistical reports. The Records Sections processes approximately 13,000 new reports a year. During 1999, this section processed over 12,000 police reports, approximately 6,000 supplements, validated over 500 ACJIS entries, processed about 1,600 subpoenas, and accepted approximately $25,000 in service fees. Records Management is also the Section that generates the City’s UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) crime statistics which have been historically used by all law enforcement agencies as a benchmark to determine crime rates.

The Property and Evidence Section accomplishes all processing, data entry, storing and maintenance of all evidentiary, safekeeping, and found property received by Police Department personnel. During 1999, this section processed over 6,900 items and destroyed or released approximately 3,500 of those items.

The Property and Evidence Section is also the primary receiving point for all Department issued equipment. From here, the items are dispersed to the appropriate employee/unit. A ready inventory of all Department equipment for both sworn and non-sworn employees is maintained in this section.The Property Section is also responsible for the lawful disposal of property. Most firearms and all narcotics are destroyed and currency is counted by two employees in an effort to ensure accuracy of funds accepted. To ensure integrity of the Property & Evidence Section, inspections are conducted each quarter by the Section supervisor with an additional two audits annually as determined by the Chief of Police.

Fingerprinting:
Finally, the Property & Evidence section has the responsibility of providing fingerprint services to all applicable City employees as well as the general public who may be applying for various licenses or jobs. Fingerprinting is conducted on Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon and from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a $13.00 fee, at the Peoria Police Department. No appointment is necessary

False Alarm Coordination:
The Department's False Alarm Coordinator is responsible for tracking and making all notifications required by the city ordinance for false alarms that occur within the city. This position is also responsible for providing public education material and attends block watch meetings and other city events to educate the public on how to prevent false alarms. During 1999, 4,800 false alarms were reported. On these false alarms, 130 warning notices were given; 70 violation letters were sent; 160 assessments were issued, and approximately $5,800 in fees were collected.