Policy Text
SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMPONENT SOP MANUAL- CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 4
BURGLARY ENFORCEMENT AND REDUCTION
(BEAR) UNIT
I.
Introduction
The BEAR Unit operates out of the Special Operations Component. The Unit is
comprised of a Unit Supervisor (Sergeant) and six officers. The Unit Supervisor is
responsible to the Special Operations Component Supervisor. The remaining staff is
responsible to the BEAR Unit Supervisor.
II.
Purpose
A. The Police Department formulated the Burglary Enforcement and Reduction
(BEAR) Unit to suppress and prevent burglaries and burglary related crimes.
B. The BEAR Unit is a plain clothes unit that patrols the City of Coral Springs and
other jurisdictions in unmarked vehicles in an effort to reduce the number of
residential, conveyance, and business burglaries in the city
C. The BEAR Unit will accomplish this goal through progressive and innovative
enforcement techniques, intelligence gathering and traditional investigative
techniques.
D. The BEAR Unit will also assist with burglary related crime prevention/educational
campaigns and utilize community oriented policing tactics to attempt to build strong
ties between members of the Coral Springs Police Department and the community.
III.
Coordination with Other Units/Agencies
A. The unit may assist any unit within the police department with tasks/investigations
that are deemed paramount to the police department.
B. The BEAR Unit maintains a working partnership with the Division of Juvenile
Justice, the Department of Corrections Probation/Parole division and all other
agencies that have ties to past offenders who reside within the City.
IV.
BEAR Unit Supervisor – Sergeant
A. The BEAR Unit Supervisor is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the unit.
B. The Supervisor is responsible for the officers under their command as well as the
work performed by the members of the unit.
C. The Supervisor must have the ability to keep abreast of the burglary trends in and
around the City, and determine the proper course of action to combat current crime
trends.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMPONENT SOP MANUAL- CHAPTER 4
D. The BEAR Unit supervisor’s duties include, but are not limited the following:
1.
Deploy manpower/assignments according to current crime trends.
2. Conduct formal and informal training sessions and provide advice to
subordinates.
3. Coordinate multi-agency operations.
4. Approve all operations being conducted by members of the B.E.A.R. Unit.
5.
Conduct briefings for operations.
6. Review reports and legal documents (search warrants, tracking orders,
subpoenas etc.).
7. Maintain intelligence files in accordance with current law.
8. Make certain that officers are following current case law in reference to the use
of electronic surveillance techniques and search and seizure.
9. Make certain that field interview cards and photograph Obtained/maintained in
accordance to G.O. 52.
10. Liaison with the State Attorney’s Office, Probation and Parole and other law
enforcement agencies.
11. Associated administrative duties as outlined in SOC Chapters 1-3.
12. The supervisor must be ready to assume and perform the duties of
subordinates in order to supplement staff shortages.
V.
BEAR Unit Officer
A. Recruitment to BEAR Unit
An Assignment Transfer opportunity will be posted when a position in the unit is
available. Refer to GO 17 for eligibility requirements and selection procedures.
B.
BEAR Unit officers must be able to work a flexible schedule to adapt to changing
crime patterns. Unit officers must be available for call-outs when necessary.
C.
Members must be able to work in a team environment with minimal supervision.
D. BEAR Officers must be able to keep abreast of the burglary trends in and around
the city and offer investigative approaches to combat current crime trends.
E. The BEAR Officer’s duties include, but are not limited the following:
SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMPONENT SOP MANUAL- CHAPTER 4
1. Conduct thorough investigations.
2. Document actions in neat and accurate reports.
3. Conduct surveillance on suspects.
4.
Maintain a close working relationship with investigative units.
5. Complete field interview cards and photograph known or suspected burglars and
associates.
6. Investigate and gather intelligence regarding burglaries and other related crimes
(i.e. Fraud, Theft, Narcotics, etc.).
7. Request and receive information from other law enforcement agencies.
8. Conduct covert/overt street-level investigation.
9. Develop and utilize information from outside departmental sources of information
and informants.
10. Participate in all stages of street-level investigations related to Burglaries.
11.
Keep abreast of relevant case law including the use of electronic surveillance
techniques and search and seizure.
12.
Develop the necessary skills needed for role-playing in an undercover capacity