Support Services

The Traffic Division is responsible for the timely response and investigation of traffic crashes and is the primary division responsible for traffic safety and the enforcement of motor vehicle laws with the Town of West Hartford.  Utilizing Laser and Radar technologies, SmartbusLive systems, license plate readers, speed boxes and signs, motorcycles, unmarked vehicles, and other creative measures, the Traffic Division also attempts to improve driver behavior by deterring hazardous driving offenses through enforcement.  The division is also responsible for the safety and coordination of police services for over 30 annual events ranging from parades, road races, walk-a-thons, charity events and others.

Traffic Officers receive advanced training in areas such as Accident Investigation, Accident Reconstruction, DWI enforcement, Drug Interdiction, and Photography. Traffic Officers also assist with responding to patrol calls for service.

Members of the division make frequent use of technologies such as laser units for speed enforcement and Radar Speed Trailers to monitor traffic which give drivers instant feedback on how fast they are going. Traffic stops for motor vehicle violations frequently lead to the discovery crimes and wanted persons. They also use a computerized laser scene reconstruction system along with a computer program for accident diagrams.

You can call the Traffic Division if you have a concern over a traffic problem, or a location where you would think traffic enforcement or the Speed Trailer would be beneficial.

The Training Division is responsible for ensuring that officers remain certified to perform their sworn duties. This is accomplished by scheduling a minimum of 40 hours of mandatory training for each officer on an annual basis - a departmental standard that far exceeds state requirements.

Members of the division are trained to conduct on-the-job courses in areas such as firearms qualification, self defense, and medical first aid certification.

Equally important is the significant role they play in providing the department with timely briefs on criminal laws and the passage of public acts related to complex social issues such as domestic violence and sexual assault. As a result of this effort, the department is able to maintain a high level of awareness on issues that can affect the community, and is better equipped to respond to those issues as they arise.

The division also schedules officers for top-tier academic courses at the Police Officers Standards of Training (P.O.S.T.) Academy and at other major training agencies nationwide. Through these specialized programs, officers have the opportunity to learn the latest in crime fighting techniques and take advanced instruction in subjects such as DWI enforcement, crime scene processing, suicide prevention, the psychopathology of stalking, and effective interview and interrogation techniques.

Recognizing the depth and strength of West Hartford's Training Division, many surrounding communities opt to send their officers to West Hartford for training and certification. The division aides in training to more than twenty different police and military agencies.