Traffic

The Merced Police Department Traffic Unit includes 1 Sergeant and 3 Officers.

Disruptive Area Response Team (DART)

DART takes a team approach to addressing "quality of life" issues for the citizens and businesses of Merced.  The team will take a long term, problem solving approach through education and enforcement for our community.

Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU)

The Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) was formed in 1994 and is staffed by Officers that are trained in gang structure, gang criminal activities and the role of prison gangs in the City. GVSU officers respond to complaints from citizens and to information gathered by operations division officers, concerning gang problem in specific neighborhoods.

School Resource Officers

In cooperation with the Merced City School District, the Department assigns an officer to each elementary school in the City. The officer’s assignment is to interface with school administration and teaching staff to act as a liaison between the school and the Department. The Department, in conjunction with the Merced Union High School District, also assigns two officers to full time duty at each of the City’s high schools– Merced High School and Golden Valley High School. The officers are involved with the school administration to maintain order on each of the campuses. In addition, they identify “at risk” juveniles and work with them to try to change their behavior. The department also has one full-time officer assigned to Merced County's Valley High School.

Color Guard

The Merced Police Department Color Guard represents the Department at parades, official events, sporting events and funerals. The Officers who volunteer for this assignment spend many hours practicing to become proficient at marching, close order drill, flag etiquette and the protocols for the variety of events they attend.

Bomb Unit

The bomb unit is comprised of three officers who have completed an extensive six-week FBI basic bomb school in Redstone, Alabama. The unit responds to reports of suspicious packages and suspected devices throughout the county of Merced. The unit is equipped with a bomb truck, bomb trailer, and a newly purchased bomb robot and bomb detection canine. In addition to responding to calls for service with the city limits, the unit is loaned on a mutual aid basis to surrounding law enforcement agencies at their request. The Merced Police Department bomb squad is the only FBI certified bomb unit from Modesto to Fresno. The bomb unit also assists with dignitary protection when called upon.

Canine Unit

The Canine (K-9) Unit is staffed by three officers and three Dogs. The dogs are trained in patrol functions including detection of narcotics and explosives. Each dog receives hours of training each week as well as Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification. In addition to their regular patrol duties, the Officers and their K9s attend many local events where they are very popular with children and the general public.

CRITICAL RESPONSE UNIT (SWAT & CNT)

The Merced Police Department Critical Response Unit, that includes SWAT and Crisis Negotiation team, responds to high-risk incidents that require weaponry and tactics not available to patrol officers. These personnel are trained in tactical deployment, high risk warrant service, hostage rescue, bus and aircraft assaults, sniper training and deployment of special weapons. They also receive training in the use of chemical agents, less lethal munitions, noise/flash diversionary devices, climbing and rappelling and mobile operations.

The Crisis Negotiation Team (HNT) has been established to provide skilled verbal communicators to de-escalate and effect surrender in critical situations where suspects have taken hostages, barricaded themselves, or have suicidal tendencies. The Merced Police Department CRU is deployed in situations where dangerous or armed suspects may be encountered such as hostage situations, barricaded suspects, and high-risk entry for search warrants. The Merced Police Department CRU is truly a lifesaving organization that places the highest value on human life. Since the team’s inception in 1975, the Merced Police Department CRU has conducted several hundred SWAT missions without the loss of life to anyone.

The primary objective of the Merced Police CRU is to SAVE LIVES.

Small Unmanned Aerial System (SUAS) / Drone

It shall be the mission of those personnel of the MERCED POLICE DEPARTMENT who are trained in the use of small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) to use this resource to enhance the provision of life and property protection, utilizing advanced technology.

It shall be the intent of every SUAS pilot to make reasonable effort to not invade a person's reasonable expectation of privacy when operating the SUAS. When operating the SUAS, MERCED POLICE DEPARTMENT pilots abide by all FAA Regulations for flight and receive the proper authorization for flight. 

Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT)

The Crime Scene Response Team (CSRT) was formed in 1996 as a way of refining the department’s approach to processing crime scenes. Typically, the CSRT is deployed for homicides, rapes, robberies with injury or any case where an injury may result in death. The Unit also responds to the scene of fatal traffic collisions at the request of the Traffic Sergeant.  CSRT personnel undergo hours of crime scene training sponsored by the FBI.  This training is in conjunction with completion of the State of California Department of Justice training in crime scene reconstruction, photography, video techniques, fingerprinting, biological evidence preservation and collection, crime scene diagramming and the use of alternate light source technology. This unit is highly trained and proficient in the securing, control, collection, documentation and preservation of evidence gathered at crime scenes.