Wauchula Police Department

The Wauchula Police Department Patrol Division is the most visible part of the agency's law enforcement services. It is the mission of the Wauchula Police Department Patrol Division to proactively respond to violations of Florida Criminal Law, enforce Traffic Violations, and provide assistance to citizens when called for service.

The Patrol Division presently comprises nine (9) full-time members and five (5) part-time members who represent more than 100+ years of experience. This division is supervised by two (2) patrol sergeants who report directly to the Assistant Chief of Police. The officers assigned to the Patrol Division work twelve hour shifts to ensure they are providing effective twenty-four hour service to the citizens of Wauchula.

The Patrol Division is prepared for the challenges faced in this ever changing high-tech environment in which we live. To facilitate this task there are several valuable tools available to our officers. Our officers are issued less-lethal devices to assist in the apprehension of suspects while limiting both injury to the officer and the suspect. All officers are issued a Taser X26 with video recording capabilities. Additionally, both Sergeants are issued less-lethal shotguns which are capable of firing less-lethal munitions.

Additionally, all of the patrol vehicles are equipped with laptop computers with air cards. Most of these same vehicles are also equipped with dash mounted video camera systems and radar units. This ensures that while in the field every officer is able to write reports which include traffic citations, warnings, crash reports, and criminal offense reports. These same computers are also connected to the National Crime Information Center and Florida Crime Information Center which allows the officer to access all manner of information related to active warrants, traffic stops, and alerts concerning missing or endangered children, adults etc. These capabilities allow the Division to better serve the citizens of Wauchula by being in the community more, while not sacrificing the importance of prompt intelligence, reports, and the dissemination of important shift to shift information.

When not on a call for service, our officers are encouraged to be proactive to deter criminal activity and ensure the safety of the community by investigating all suspicious persons, vehicles and activity. This proactive approach leads to many arrests of individuals who are wanted, violating their probation or otherwise involved in criminal behavior.

The Patrol Division also utilizes an officer in the K-9 (patrol dog) function. The capabilities of this position include but are not limited to narcotics detection, felony apprehension, and tracking of both criminals, and lost citizens.

The Patrol Division performs all of its duties in a professional, courteous, and compassionate manner that reflects the rural, family oriented community that it serves.