Dover Police Department Patrol Operations

The Dover Police Department conducts patrol operations 24 hours a day seven days a week 365 days a year.  The Patrol Operations Function is charged with the day to day patrol activities conducted in the Town of Dover.   Patrol Operations are under the command of Captain Peter Ugalde. 

Patrol Operations is divided into four patrol squads.  Each squad works twelve hours a day with one squad working day hours the other working night hours.   These two squads each works four days then is replaced by the other two squads for four days off.  Each of these patrol squads is under the supervision of a sergeant.  

There are three lieutenants assigned to Patrol Operations, Lieutenant Joseph McGuire, Lieutenant Barry Young and Lieutenant Francis Coppinger.  These lieutenants work a twelve hour tour on afternoons until after midnight.  The lieutenants are responsible for administrative patrol tasks such as ensuring the patrol squads have the proper equipment. They are also in charge of police headquarters and ensure a proper police response to calls for service.    The lieutenants are also responsible for the taking of Internal Affairs Complaints and Megan's Law Registrations.

Patrol Officers are required to conduct many different types of duties during a typical work day.  As such these officers need to be well versed in the different types of police activities required to combat crimes on the street level.  These officers are the first line of defense for the public against crime.  Patrol officers conduct traffic and anti crime operations when needed.  Chances are if you call the police the first person you will see is a patrol officer.  Patrol officers are also well versed in community policing concepts and are dedicated to the suppression of crime with the assistance of the public.  Patrol officers are called upon for conflict resolution and for the general assistance of the public.  Officers from patrol also conduct bicycle and footpatrols and provide for school activities. 

Officers in patrol are cross trained in many areas of police work.  All patrol officers in the department receive training in the following:   Criminal Law, Motor Vehicle Law, Speed and Traffic Enforcement,  Radar, Accident Investigations, Detecting Drunk Drivers, Domestic Violence, Use of Force, Motor Vehicle Pursuit Driving, Drug investigations,  Street survival, as well as many other types of training.   The police department also periodically provides Spanish language training for its members.     

There are also members who have specialized training in various areas including:   Accident Reconstruction, Drug Recognition Expert Training, Motorcycle Officer Instructors, Bike Patrol Officers. 

The Town of Dover Police Department has Hispanic officers at each level in the rank structure.  These officers are each not only fluent in Spanish but, as they are Hispanic they are also familiar with the various activities and cultures served by the Town of Dover Police Department.  These officers are:  Captain Peter Ugalde, Lieutenant Daniel Pedernera, Sgt. Richard Gonzalez, Officer Joaquin Negron, Officer Harry Ruiz.  Many members of the Town of Dover Police Department speak a languages other than English.