‘’The ‘'’Laurel Police Department’’’ (‘’’LPD’) is a nationally accredited, full-service police department servicing a population of 21,945 persons within 3.8 square miles (9.8 km2) of the municipality of Laurel in the U.S. state of Maryland in Prince Georges County. The LPD also maintains its own emergency communications (dispatch) and temporary prisoner detention facility.
Patrol is the largest and most visible component of the Laurel Police. The Patrol Division is made up of five patrol squads, each of which is overseen by a Sergeant with assistance from Corporals. Officers respond for all calls for service within the city as well as conduct area checks, investigate any suspicious activities, and enforce motor vehicle laws.
K9 units are assigned to patrol squads to assist with a variety of situations to include narcotics detection and assistance in apprehending fleeing suspects.
Criminal Investigations Division is composed of detectives who investigate major crimes within the city that require further time and investigation beyond a normal patrol response.
Traffic/Community Policing Unit is composed of two different components. Traffic officers are primarily designated to enforce motor vehicle law within the city as well as assist with traffic-related details such as funeral escorts and parades. Community Policing officers attend homeowner meetings, oversee DARE, and address many other community concerns as well as monitor speed enforcement cameras.
Emergency Response Team is the department's SWAT team. The team is decentralized, meaning team members work a normal post such as patrol or CID and assume ERT duties when the team is called to action.
The Special Enforcement Unit investigates narcotics and vice crimes.
Officers are issued SigSauer P229R pistols, OC spray, ASP expandable batons, Taser X26 or X2, radio, and handcuffs. Vehicles are primarily the Chevrolet Impala Police Package with Federal Signal Valor LED lightbars.
