The Operations Bureau covers a wide range of Law Enforcement duties, specifically coordinated to accomplish the overall mission of the North Port Police Department.
Captain William E. Colligan commands the Operations Bureau and its six distinctly-tasked Divisions: Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene Investigations, Property & Evidence, K-9 and Animal Control.
The Operations Bureau is made up of the Department personnel who are most visible to the public. They patrol the neighborhoods, investigate the crimes, take control of any property & evidence and deal with nuisance and dangerous animals.
Our K-9 officers assist in searches and play a vitally important role in situations that place an Officer in jeopardy.

The Patrol Division
The Uniform Patrol Division, the largest in the Department, is divided into four squads responsible for patrolling the 100-plus square miles that make up the City of North Port. The officers answer all the calls for service that are called into the Police Department.
The Patrol Division has the central and most important role in helping the Department reach its primary goals: building partnerships and solving problems. Patrol also assists the other Divisions with various assignments.
Each squad assigned to the Patrol Division consists of a Lieutenant, Sergeant and other Officers. The squads currently work 12-hour shifts, which vary in start times in order to provide our customers with the prompt, professional service they deserve.
The Patrol Division is accountable to the Operations Bureau Commander.

Animal Control Unit
The Animal Control Unit, staffed by an Animal Control Specialist, responds to complaints involving both domestic and wild animals. The Unit is responsible for the apprehension of stray animals and the enforcement of the City's Animal Control Ordinance.

The Unit locates and impounds stray animals, checks animals for rabies tags, provides licensing information to animal owners and deals with animal nuisance complaints.

The Specialist also responds to calls involving injured animals, and investigates animal bite complaints.

The unit can provide traps to catch nuisance animals.

The Animal Control Specialist is available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Crime Scene Division
The North Port Police Department's Property/Evidence and Crime Scene Sections are staffed by Property/Evidence Technician Pam Schmidt and Crime Scene Investigator, Detective Michael Saxton.
Ms. Schmidt and Detective Saxton are responsible for control and custody of property and evidence brought into the Department.
The day to day operations of these positions include:

• Collection, packaging and securing of property and evidence;
• Processing evidence for fingerprints;
• Investigating ownership of found property;
• Preparing evidence for courtroom presentation;
• Testifying in court regarding evidence collection
• Conducting inventories of the property/evidence rooms and
• Carrying out the release, destruction, donation or sale of property and evidence in compliance with Florida State Statutes and City regulations.

Criminal Investigations Division
The Criminal Investigations Division has six detectives, including a Supervising Detective, Lieutenant Frank Conroy.
This division investigates felony cases such as burglaries, child abuse, theft, fraud and other types of major incidents. Each year this Division investigates hundreds of criminal complaints.

Domestic Abuse Intervention Program
The North Port Police Department's Domestic Violence Coordinator oversees the North Port Domestic Abuse Intervention Program (DAIP).
The DAIP Coordinator:

• Supervises a volunteer Victim Advocate;
• Works with the State Attorney's Office, Law Enforcement Agencies and other appropriate professionals to ensure that families receive effective intervention.
• Provides community education via speaking engagements and media publicity; and
• Coordinates with CARE (Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies), DASH (Domestic Abuse Shelter Home), SPARCC (Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center) and other public and private social service agencies who work with victims of domestic abuse.