Uniform Division
The Uniform Patrol Division of the Columbus Police Department carries a long and proud history of service to the citizens of Columbus and the surrounding area. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the men and women of the Uniform Division strive to keep Columbus a safe and vibrant city.
Comprised of over two-thirds of our officers, the Uniform Patrol Division forms the backbone of the Department and serves as our first response to any call or crisis that may occur within the city, going to over 50,000 calls a year. Uniform officers are assigned to one of three shifts that has at least 7 officers working each day.
Members of the Uniform Patrol Division strive to maintain a professional image, not only in their appearance, but also in the performance of their duties. The Columbus Police Department prides itself on being one of the best-trained agencies in the state of Indiana. This is immediately reflected in the work the men and women of the Uniform Patrol Division do on a daily basis.
They may not know what the next day or even the next call will require of them as officers, but rest assured, whatever it is, they will strive to perform in a fair, disciplined, and highly professional manner.
Special Units
The Columbus Police Department is home to multiple specialty departments, including K-9 Officers, S.W.A.T. Team, Bomb Squad, Negotiators, and more. These special units are comprised of officers that have completed special training for their specialty, and have completed an interview process to be accepted to each unit.
School Resource Officers
Prior to 2014, the department had partnered with the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation in a variety of programs, where the school-police relationship has been strong and productive. In 2014, there was an additional commitment and formalization of the partnership by the addition of two School Resource Officers assigned full-time to the schools. Two additional CPD officers were recently assigned to our schools.
The majority the officer’s time is spent engaging with students in a positive manner, and not acting in an enforcement role. The primary purpose of such initiative is to maintain a safe environment for students, school personnel, and other people using school facilities.
Training
Often, after a critical incident, officers will say, “My training kicked in and I performed without thinking about it.” This is the reason officers need to receive the best training possible.
All new police officers must undergo at 1- week police academy, usually at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield, IN. New officers must also successfully complete a 15-week field training program. Our training coordinator is in charge of the field training program, which pairs new officers with experienced field training officers (FTOs) for their on-the-job training.
Indiana requires a minimum of 24 hours of yearly training for police officers in various topics such as de-escalation, defensive tactics, firearms, emergency driving, and more. CPD officers far exceed the minimum requirement. In 2024, CPD officers attended 14,393 hours of training, averaging about 165 hours per officer.
Our training coordinator, Officer Michael Pigman can be reached at 812-376-2607 or mpigman@columbus.in.gov
School Crossing Guards
School Crossing Guards assist in getting elementary school children in non-bussed areas across busy intersections near their schools. We have seventeen locations manned by twenty one crossing guards on each school day. We work closely with Healthy Communities and the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation to provide our children with safe intersections to walk and bike to school.
Questions? Please call 812-376-2660.
Police
News
Dispatch
(812) 379-1689
Front Desk
(812) 376-2600
Records Division
123 Washington Street
Columbus, IN 47201
(812) 376-2653
Monday – Friday
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
