When you become part of the Mountain View Police Department, you'll have the chance to progress in your career and specialize in different areas of police work. There are numerous opportunities for you to pursue within the department.
Specialties

Detectives
Mountain View Police Department detectives have a wide range of responsibilities. Unlike patrol officers, who focus on patrolling, issuing citations, and responding to emergencies, detectives are trained to use various techniques for conducting investigations. Their responsibilities include interviewing witnesses and suspects, gathering evidence, documenting their findings in reports, and making arrests. MVPD has specialized detectives who are assigned to investigate property crimes, robberies, assaults, sexual assaults, crimes against children, and homicides.

K9 Unit
Police dogs are an integral and versatile tool in law enforcement, and MVPD has one of the longest-running K9 programs in Northern California.
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In addition to being great companions, police dogs save time for our officers, reduce the number of officers needed for a search, conduct more thorough searches, and help keep our officers and the community safe during the apprehension of dangerous criminals. As a K9 officer, you will work alongside these highly skilled dogs trained to track and apprehend suspects, detect narcotics and explosives, search for missing persons, and provide protection to their human partners.

TRAFFIC
Police motorcycle officers have a variety of responsibilities, including enforcing traffic complaints, reducing accidents, patrolling, providing escorts, managing public relations, and controlling traffic at special events.
Additionally, they respond to dispatched patrol calls as backup and may act as the primary officers at crime scenes. Motorcycle officers receive specialized training in balance and precision maneuvering techniques required for police motorcycles, and they use the latest BMW Police motorcycles at the Mountain View Police Department.

CNT/SWAT
MVPD has one of the most well-trained teams in Crisis Negotiations (CNT) in the County. In addition to more than 50% of our officers being trained in crisis intervention (exceeding the national average of 20%), this highly-specialized CNT team has additional capabilities to help ensure safe resolutions for all in volatile situations.
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Established in 1989, the MVPD Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team has consistently demonstrated its expertise in handling a variety of high-risk situations. From confronting heavily armed criminals to performing hostage rescues and executing high-risk arrests, the team is prepared to handle volatile and dangerous incidents. Additionally, the SWAT team is trained to enter armored or barricaded buildings, ensuring that they can effectively respond to a wide range of challenging scenarios. With their specialized skills and equipment, the MVPD SWAT team plays a crucial role in maintaining public safety and security in the community.

School Resource OfficeR (SRO)
School Resource Officers (SRO) assigned to our Youth Services Unit (YSU) are responsible for ensuring the safety of the school environment. SROs are assigned to work in schools and collaborate with school administrators, teachers, students, and families to maintain a safe and positive learning environment.
The primary role of a School Resource Officer is to act as a law enforcement officer, mentor, and educator within the school community. They are responsible for maintaining a visible presence on campus to deter criminal activity, respond to incidents, and enforce laws. SROs often provide guidance and support to students, addressing concerns related to safety, bullying, and other issues that may impact their well-being. In Mountain View, SROs host many positive programs for youth that occur year-round to help meet additional needs of youth, including Cops That Care, our winter gift giveaway, and Dreams and Futures, a summer camp-style program established in 1996 aimed at inspiring positive decision-making and deterring from gang-related activity in adolescence.