The Operations Bureau provides police services within the incorporated city limits of Galveston. The city is separated into three communities , each containing beats. This allows officers assigned to the Operations Bureau to focus more closely on issues relevant to the residents within our community and the specific geographic area they are assigned to.
Officers assigned to the Operations Bureau work in cooperation with other community members and organizations, and are actively resolving crime concerns and quality of life issues facing our community.
By remaining active in our neighborhood organizations and working as a partner, we seek solutions to the challenges of our communities' rapid growth. Improvements of quality police service, reduction of crime and the fear of crime remain as our primary goals.
Captain Joe Pena
Operations Bureau
The Operations Bureau is under the command of Captain Joe Pena.
Additionally, the Operations Bureau is separated into three separate communities.
They consist of the West End Community which operates from 61st street to the far west end of the island, including the San Luis Pass Bridge.
The Mid-Town Community which operates from 35th Street to 61st street .
The East End Community which operates from 35th street to the far east end of the island including the Ferry Landing and the beaches.
Each of these communities are under the command of a Lieutenant who reports directly to Captain Pena.
The objective of this delineation of duties is to encourage officers to become familiar with the citizens and problems unique to their beat, as well as allowing citizens to become familiar with the officer who patrols their neighborhood daily. By getting to know the citizens we serve and remaining active in our neighborhood organizations, we seek improvement in the quality of police service delivery, the reduction in crime and the reduction in fear of crime.
The Division's authorized strength is 120 police officers, representing 70% of the Department's 170 officers. Considered the "backbone" of the Department, the men and women of the Operation Bureau responded to nearly 90,000 calls for assistance in 2008. The Bureau Command includes the SWAT Team, the Dive/Marine Team, the Crisis Negotiation Team, Motorcycle Patrol, Mounted Patrol, Bicycle Patrol, Canine Patrol, Community Services, and the three Community Watches.
The Community Watches are non-rotating and consist of three, eight-hour shifts. The Day Watch operates from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Evening Watch operates from 2:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. The Night Shift operates from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Lapover units patrol the streets during shift change.
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