Evidence Collection Unit

The duties of the Evidence Collection Unit include providing investigative support in all areas of evidence collection. This includes the photography, documentation, and preservation of evidence for the Police Department. The overall goal of the Unit is the collection of physical evidence that will place a suspect at the crime scene and to accurately record the scene for investigative reconstruction and court presentation. The Unit has available to it a Mobile Crime Lab. The Mobile Crime Lab allows the Unit to respond to crime scenes with all necessary equipment. It provides a sheltered work station needed to process the scene in a professional manner. Members of the Unit receive specialized training in the areas of fingerprints, photography, diagramming, documentation, and evidence collection.

S.W.A.T.

The purpose of the SWAT team is to complement the Department's  total service program by providing for the deployment and use of special weapons and tactics when necessary to contend with an "unusual situation" that cannot be effectively handled by patrol line operations.

Bomb / Hazardous Devices Unit

The Columbia Police Department Hazardous Devices Unit, or Bomb Unit, assists with the identification, transport and disposal of all explosives and ordinance materials that are involved with clandestine, hostile or criminal activity in the City of Columbia area. This unit is comprised of one highly trained certified bomb technician and two assistant technicians. Members are on call twenty-four hours a day - seven days a week. The Bomb Unit's main mission is to respond to suspicious circumstances where it is believed that explosives or some other unknown danger may pose a threat to officers and the general public. The Bomb Unit will utilize specialized equipment to diagnose and render suspicious packages safe.

Unit members are required to successfully complete the five-week FBI Hazardous Devices Training Course at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. They are also required to maintain proficiency through monthly refresher training and a one-week explosive ordinance recertification course every 3 years at Redstone Arsenal.

MotorCycle Unit

In 2002 the Columbia Police Department again looked to motorcycles to augment its patrol vehicles. Motorcycles had been a part of the Department's fleet in the past but they were phased out in favor of the automobile. As the Department sought to address the issues of traffic enforcement and officer presence in the city, the police motorcycle again became a viable option for the Department. The Columbia Police Department maintains a Motorcycle Unit for the purpose of supplementing traditional patrol vehicles, a presence at special events (such as funerals, parades and motorcade escort), to operate in confined areas, and to promote public relations with this unique and popular resource. The Department purchased two new Harley Davidson motorcycles.

The motorcycles are model year 2002 Harley-Davidson FLHTP-I Electra Glide. This cycle, with the Twin Cam 88 engine @ 1,450 cc's is fuel injected and weighs in fully equipped at over 900 pounds.

The Columbia Police Department Honor Guard serves as an official representative for the Police Department and the Chief of Police. When requested, the Honor Guard also represents the City of Columbia as determined by the Chief of Police.

The most visible and lasting impression provided by the Honor Guard is the honors given to deceased who have honorably served their community and nation. The honors given at memorial services and funerals provide not only a final tribute to the deceased, but also a soothing and healing time of remembrance for families and friends.

The Honor Guard consists of a rifle team, bugler, and a casket team. The rifle team provides a 21-gun salute, the bugler plays taps, and the casket team folds the American flag over the casket. The Chief of Police presents the flag to the next of kin. The casket team also serves as pallbearers at the family's request.

The final presentation of the flag that draped the casket is a solemn act of recognition and remembrance by a grateful community for dedicated service and sacrifice.