Post by Clez on Jan 6, 2007 22:50:27 GMT
Since the LAPD characters have grown far beyond what I expected they ever would, I decided to make a post containing details, and 'faces' of the force, to clear things up, and to keep things straight, in-game. What follows is a departmental rundown, complete with what they specialise in, who heads the department, and the officers who work for each team that's featured in-game so far, as well as a set of general facts at the bottom of the post. If more police officer characters join 'the cast', then obviously, this will be adapted to fit.
Departments are alphabetical:
ANTI-CRIME
Acting as a kind of go-between for departments, Anti-Crime mostly specialises in gang-related incidents of varying degrees, from drug-trafficking scams, to kidnapping, to collaboration with Homicide on murder cases (only if they relate to said gangs), but for all intents and purposes, Anti-Crime are the general 'get your hands dirty' guys who run interference, do the jobs no one else wants to do, and generally throw themselves in headfirst. Because of the vast territory of cases, Anti-Crime is a dangerous field, and most officers, when out of the stationhouse, are encouraged to wear vests beneath their clothing. They are a plain-clothes division, specialising in undercover and infiltration work, and most officers wear their badges on chains around their necks, beneath their shirts, hidden from sight.
FORCE INVESTIGATION
The purpose of Force Investigation is, as the name might indicate, internal. They investigate any discrepancies or inconsistencies with cases, specialising in suspecting their own, making them not-well-liked, but crucial all the same. They're the guys in suits who the other cops steer clear of, paranoid they might point the finger for the smallest thing. They work on cases that have aroused suspicion with those at the top, and make a living out of scrutinising their fellow officers.
HOMICIDE
Though the name might speak for itself, the Homicide department do not always work on cases involving murder; though their initial investigation usually starts with a death of some sort, or at least an attempt at such, they will often branch out into other fields, such as kidnapping or assault, in order to bring a case to a close. Homicide officers are perhaps the most well-known, because of their fame in fiction of all sorts, and are, like Anti-Crime, often in the line of fire, because of the people they work with outside of the station. Homicide, unlike Anti-Crime however, are not plain clothes, and do not always wear vests under their attire; usually, such protection is applied when they expect trouble, making them that little bit more vulnerable. Homicide officers are notoriously iron-willed, with strong stomachs, and often have fiery tempers, but their work in the force is, obviously, critical to the safety of the city, despite the danger and gore.
NARCOTICS
Specialising in all things drug related, Narcotics bring down dealers and junkies alike, aiming to wipe out the drug-community altogether, one man at a time. They often work in plain clothes, in order to fool their targets, and like Anti-Crime, wear their badges in concealment, around their necks and under their shirts. While Narcotics can be considered something of a dull department in comparison to Anti-Crime and Homicide, they have their fair share of excitement, especially when it comes to raids and chases, whether on foot, or behind the wheel. Like Homicide, they don't always wear protection under their clothing, but it is encouraged, given the unpredictable nature of addicts in general.
SVU (SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT)
Special Victims Unit deals with the gritty, low-and-dirty side of crime that many wish they never had to think about; rape, or sex crimes, and everything else along those lines. They are a professional unit, if somewhat detached at times, because of the horrific crimes they have to face and the often-insane and perverted men and women behind it all. They are passionately dedicated, regardless of the nightmares that haunt them off-duty; after all, it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. Like many of the other divisions in the LAPD, they wear professional attire of suits, shirts and ties etc, and like many of their fellow officers, do not wear protective equipment at all times unless it is specifically and strictly required. They also don't always carry their regulation sidearms, though more often than not, they do simply out of habit.
VICE
The Vice department is not one of the most well known, but perhaps one of the busiest because of their focus. They are responsible for tracking, exposing and shutting down all trafficking that deals with prostitution, gambling and bookmaking. They watch crime syndicates, keeping tabs on them from a distance in order to analyse the risk involved in such a franchise, and naturally, if necessary, stop them from going forward. They are not quite as 'action-based' as other departments, but while they might seem 'dull' in comparison to other sections of the LAPD, it doesn't make their job any less dangerous or trying. In general, their attire isn't restricted, per se; obviously, they need to appear professional, but the people they work with and, respectively, arrest, are likely to spot a cop a mile away, and so, tidy jeans as opposed to suit pants aren't going to make a big difference in their line of work. Like Homicide and Narcotics, the Vice officers generally do not wear vests under their work clothes unless violence is expected.
Additional:
SPECIALISTS
Specialists are those officers or personnel of whatever rank or standing who do not fall into any other designated field; they have their own areas of expertise and are called in on specific cases, either to act in a physical capacity or as consultants.
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Crime Scene Investigators, or CSIs, are the scientists, and work in the lower levels of the LAPD, often underestimated or underappreciated by many officers, seen as geeks, or background figures, when in truth, their work is essential, and unmistakeably vital. They study the hard, scientific facts, collecting evidence at a crime scene, in order to track a suspect without giving in to their paranoia, suspicion, or whatever biases they might have outside of work. They work more closely with Homicide than any other department, because of the mysterious, complicated nature of murder etc, and as such, are often working with bodies, or remains of some sort, and like the officers they collaborate with, they are exceptionally strong-stomached, and are fiercely determined and resourceful.
TECHNICIANS
Without the technicians, LAPD wouldn't operate. They work on anything from machinery to firearms, and have a wide variety of uses, whether it be fixing a computer, or repairing a sidearm. They are often, like the CSIs, underappreciated or overlooked, and many officers only really notice them when they're needed, making the job rather unglamorous and perhaps undesirable in general, but their work is imperative to the success of the LAPD as a whole.
GENERAL FACTS
● Officers almost always work in pairs. This is for the safety of the officers in general, as well as providing two perspectives on any idea or case. It is unusual for two women to be partnered, especially in dangerous field work; one man and one woman, or two men, are the normal combination for partners, to give a balance of strength. This is especially true of specialised departments.
● Ranks for officers in specialised departments are as follows, in terms of seniority: Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. Homicide stands alone in the fact that they only have Detectives, a Lieutenant and a Captain; they have no Officers or Sergeants - between departments, Homicide Detectives are of an equal rank to Sergeants, and recognised as the same, in terms of ability and seniority. Crime Scene Investigators only carry the rank of Detective, though their experience and time on the team determines seniority.
● Age, height, gender and skin colour have no influence in the LAPD; ability and intelligence are the deciding factors in rank, promotion and placement. The LAPD was the first to hire a policewoman, and as such, recognises the resourcefulness, intelligence and skill of a woman as being equal to a man, unbalanced only in terms of physical strength, as mentioned in the first point, which is why partnerships usually contain at least one man.
● The LAPD standard sidearms are Beretta and Glock; it is the officer's individual preference as to which firearm they carry, but they must be registered, and signed out if taken from the station while off-duty, otherwise they are to be left in a secure locker, one of which each officer possesses in a department, as standard. Some officers carry a second, personal sidearm that they have purchased and licensed outside of the station, but they must be registered with the department head before being allowed on any officer's person on-duty. Pocket knives, etc, can be carried without paperwork being filed, but any inclusion in a case of any kind must be logged and recorded, in case of investigation.
● LAPD street/uniformed officers work in squad cars unless on foot patrol, in pairs, and carry radios as standard; they are signed out from the station at the start of every shift, and never switched off. Higher ranking officers (Detectives and above) carry cell phones on the job, but when working on a raid, or any other high-profile, dangerous situation, they are issued radios as well.
● Attire depends on the department: Homicide and Force Investigation are required to dress in a professional, smart manner, and discouraged from wearing t-shirts, jeans, sneakers or anything else casual. They generally wear suits; women are not required to wear skirts, but they must wear women's suits of equivalent smartness to the men, and must not be of any kind of suggestive nature. The shirts/blouses are not restricted by colour, but some sense of professionalism is expected. Smart, practical shoes are encouraged; boots, or actual shoes, and sensible heels for the women.
● Internal relationships aren't openly encouraged, but are also not loudly discouraged, though it depends on the situation. Partners are required to remain professional and focused on the job; relationships between partners is prohibited, and any development beyond a working partnership is usually resolved by a reassignment, meaning both officers will be designated new partners, and split up, meaning that their work dynamic is compromised, but their off-duty relationship can continue. They are usually given the choice to be reassigned, but if they decline the option, they are told to end the relationship.
● All officers are required to spend at least one hour, weekly, at the station's range, to ensure their marksmanship maintains its accuracy, and that their ability remains constant. Extra time is encouraged, but usually required to be logged on personal time, so as not to compromise a workday. Officers must be tested in order to professionally work with anything more powerful than a standard sidearm; some are cleared to use sniper rifles, while others are cleared for shotguns. This clearance has nothing to do with rank or seniority, but simply gives them that extra skill.
Departments are alphabetical:
ANTI-CRIME
Acting as a kind of go-between for departments, Anti-Crime mostly specialises in gang-related incidents of varying degrees, from drug-trafficking scams, to kidnapping, to collaboration with Homicide on murder cases (only if they relate to said gangs), but for all intents and purposes, Anti-Crime are the general 'get your hands dirty' guys who run interference, do the jobs no one else wants to do, and generally throw themselves in headfirst. Because of the vast territory of cases, Anti-Crime is a dangerous field, and most officers, when out of the stationhouse, are encouraged to wear vests beneath their clothing. They are a plain-clothes division, specialising in undercover and infiltration work, and most officers wear their badges on chains around their necks, beneath their shirts, hidden from sight.
PARIS
Captain
(Central)
FLETCHER
Detective
(Central)
SILKS
Detective
(Central)
FORCE INVESTIGATION
The purpose of Force Investigation is, as the name might indicate, internal. They investigate any discrepancies or inconsistencies with cases, specialising in suspecting their own, making them not-well-liked, but crucial all the same. They're the guys in suits who the other cops steer clear of, paranoid they might point the finger for the smallest thing. They work on cases that have aroused suspicion with those at the top, and make a living out of scrutinising their fellow officers.
VINSON
Captain
(Central)
--
N/A
(N/A)
--
N/A
(N/A)
HOMICIDE
Though the name might speak for itself, the Homicide department do not always work on cases involving murder; though their initial investigation usually starts with a death of some sort, or at least an attempt at such, they will often branch out into other fields, such as kidnapping or assault, in order to bring a case to a close. Homicide officers are perhaps the most well-known, because of their fame in fiction of all sorts, and are, like Anti-Crime, often in the line of fire, because of the people they work with outside of the station. Homicide, unlike Anti-Crime however, are not plain clothes, and do not always wear vests under their attire; usually, such protection is applied when they expect trouble, making them that little bit more vulnerable. Homicide officers are notoriously iron-willed, with strong stomachs, and often have fiery tempers, but their work in the force is, obviously, critical to the safety of the city, despite the danger and gore.
HODGE
Captain
(Central)
CALHOUN
Captain
(Southwest)
RIVERA
Detective
(Central)
CARSEN
Detective
(Central)
RIVERA
Detective
(Central)
WILES
Detective
(Central)
HARNAHAN
Detective
(Southwest)
MERCER
Detective
(Southwest)
NARCOTICS
Specialising in all things drug related, Narcotics bring down dealers and junkies alike, aiming to wipe out the drug-community altogether, one man at a time. They often work in plain clothes, in order to fool their targets, and like Anti-Crime, wear their badges in concealment, around their necks and under their shirts. While Narcotics can be considered something of a dull department in comparison to Anti-Crime and Homicide, they have their fair share of excitement, especially when it comes to raids and chases, whether on foot, or behind the wheel. Like Homicide, they don't always wear protection under their clothing, but it is encouraged, given the unpredictable nature of addicts in general.
LEWIS
Captain
(Central)
TYLER
Sergeant
(Central)
MURRAY
Sergeant
(Central)
BERKSHIRE
Detective
(Central)
HANCOCK
Detective
(Central)
DAY
Detective
(Central)
PAYNE
Detective
(Central)
SVU (SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT)
Special Victims Unit deals with the gritty, low-and-dirty side of crime that many wish they never had to think about; rape, or sex crimes, and everything else along those lines. They are a professional unit, if somewhat detached at times, because of the horrific crimes they have to face and the often-insane and perverted men and women behind it all. They are passionately dedicated, regardless of the nightmares that haunt them off-duty; after all, it's a dirty job, but someone's got to do it. Like many of the other divisions in the LAPD, they wear professional attire of suits, shirts and ties etc, and like many of their fellow officers, do not wear protective equipment at all times unless it is specifically and strictly required. They also don't always carry their regulation sidearms, though more often than not, they do simply out of habit.
DUNN
Captain
(Central)
MCKINLEY
Detective
(Central)
--
N/A
(N/A)
VICE
The Vice department is not one of the most well known, but perhaps one of the busiest because of their focus. They are responsible for tracking, exposing and shutting down all trafficking that deals with prostitution, gambling and bookmaking. They watch crime syndicates, keeping tabs on them from a distance in order to analyse the risk involved in such a franchise, and naturally, if necessary, stop them from going forward. They are not quite as 'action-based' as other departments, but while they might seem 'dull' in comparison to other sections of the LAPD, it doesn't make their job any less dangerous or trying. In general, their attire isn't restricted, per se; obviously, they need to appear professional, but the people they work with and, respectively, arrest, are likely to spot a cop a mile away, and so, tidy jeans as opposed to suit pants aren't going to make a big difference in their line of work. Like Homicide and Narcotics, the Vice officers generally do not wear vests under their work clothes unless violence is expected.
DOYLE
Captain
(Central)
WILSON
Captain
(Southwest)
STONE
Detective
(Central)
PORTER
Detective
(Central)
DUCOTEL
Detective
(Central)
ROMANO
Detective
(Central)
Additional:
SPECIALISTS
Specialists are those officers or personnel of whatever rank or standing who do not fall into any other designated field; they have their own areas of expertise and are called in on specific cases, either to act in a physical capacity or as consultants.
GRIFFIN
Medical
Examiner
ROSENFELD
Criminal
Profiler
ROTH
Crisis
Negotiator
MI SUN
Sniper
--
MARLING
Truth
Wizard
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
Crime Scene Investigators, or CSIs, are the scientists, and work in the lower levels of the LAPD, often underestimated or underappreciated by many officers, seen as geeks, or background figures, when in truth, their work is essential, and unmistakeably vital. They study the hard, scientific facts, collecting evidence at a crime scene, in order to track a suspect without giving in to their paranoia, suspicion, or whatever biases they might have outside of work. They work more closely with Homicide than any other department, because of the mysterious, complicated nature of murder etc, and as such, are often working with bodies, or remains of some sort, and like the officers they collaborate with, they are exceptionally strong-stomached, and are fiercely determined and resourceful.
HOBBS
Lead
Detective
--
N/A
--
N/A
TECHNICIANS
Without the technicians, LAPD wouldn't operate. They work on anything from machinery to firearms, and have a wide variety of uses, whether it be fixing a computer, or repairing a sidearm. They are often, like the CSIs, underappreciated or overlooked, and many officers only really notice them when they're needed, making the job rather unglamorous and perhaps undesirable in general, but their work is imperative to the success of the LAPD as a whole.
HYATT
position
WEST
A&V
BOONE
A&V
PEARCE
position
GENERAL FACTS
● Officers almost always work in pairs. This is for the safety of the officers in general, as well as providing two perspectives on any idea or case. It is unusual for two women to be partnered, especially in dangerous field work; one man and one woman, or two men, are the normal combination for partners, to give a balance of strength. This is especially true of specialised departments.
● Ranks for officers in specialised departments are as follows, in terms of seniority: Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant and Captain. Homicide stands alone in the fact that they only have Detectives, a Lieutenant and a Captain; they have no Officers or Sergeants - between departments, Homicide Detectives are of an equal rank to Sergeants, and recognised as the same, in terms of ability and seniority. Crime Scene Investigators only carry the rank of Detective, though their experience and time on the team determines seniority.
● Age, height, gender and skin colour have no influence in the LAPD; ability and intelligence are the deciding factors in rank, promotion and placement. The LAPD was the first to hire a policewoman, and as such, recognises the resourcefulness, intelligence and skill of a woman as being equal to a man, unbalanced only in terms of physical strength, as mentioned in the first point, which is why partnerships usually contain at least one man.
● The LAPD standard sidearms are Beretta and Glock; it is the officer's individual preference as to which firearm they carry, but they must be registered, and signed out if taken from the station while off-duty, otherwise they are to be left in a secure locker, one of which each officer possesses in a department, as standard. Some officers carry a second, personal sidearm that they have purchased and licensed outside of the station, but they must be registered with the department head before being allowed on any officer's person on-duty. Pocket knives, etc, can be carried without paperwork being filed, but any inclusion in a case of any kind must be logged and recorded, in case of investigation.
● LAPD street/uniformed officers work in squad cars unless on foot patrol, in pairs, and carry radios as standard; they are signed out from the station at the start of every shift, and never switched off. Higher ranking officers (Detectives and above) carry cell phones on the job, but when working on a raid, or any other high-profile, dangerous situation, they are issued radios as well.
● Attire depends on the department: Homicide and Force Investigation are required to dress in a professional, smart manner, and discouraged from wearing t-shirts, jeans, sneakers or anything else casual. They generally wear suits; women are not required to wear skirts, but they must wear women's suits of equivalent smartness to the men, and must not be of any kind of suggestive nature. The shirts/blouses are not restricted by colour, but some sense of professionalism is expected. Smart, practical shoes are encouraged; boots, or actual shoes, and sensible heels for the women.
● Internal relationships aren't openly encouraged, but are also not loudly discouraged, though it depends on the situation. Partners are required to remain professional and focused on the job; relationships between partners is prohibited, and any development beyond a working partnership is usually resolved by a reassignment, meaning both officers will be designated new partners, and split up, meaning that their work dynamic is compromised, but their off-duty relationship can continue. They are usually given the choice to be reassigned, but if they decline the option, they are told to end the relationship.
● All officers are required to spend at least one hour, weekly, at the station's range, to ensure their marksmanship maintains its accuracy, and that their ability remains constant. Extra time is encouraged, but usually required to be logged on personal time, so as not to compromise a workday. Officers must be tested in order to professionally work with anything more powerful than a standard sidearm; some are cleared to use sniper rifles, while others are cleared for shotguns. This clearance has nothing to do with rank or seniority, but simply gives them that extra skill.