Like most military installations, Fort Belvoir's patrol division is made up of civilians and Soldiers. They provide a mix of backgrounds and knowledge that help the Fort Belvoir Police Department do its job: keep the installation safe and secure.
"This is a perfect example of how we're working together for the common mission. A lot of people don't realize that we basically do the same job -- we're just in different uniforms," said Lt. Scott Crawford, civilian police officer and watch commander for the patrol division's middle (night) shift. "It's one team, one fight."
Crawford himself is both a Soldier and a civilian: he has worked as a civilian police officer for 22 years, and is also an officer in the Army National Guard.
He often draws on his past experiences working as a deputy sheriff, state trooper and on border patrol, to help provide training for the patrol officers under his command.
"I've done different things in law enforcement--local, state and federal and now military. I get both sides of the house," he said. "It gives me the opportunity to kind of share what I've learned over the years in the different agencies I've worked for. I think it helps that they know that I'm an officer in the Guard and they know that I've done active duty time -- an active duty tour here, and I've deployed also. It helps that I can talk that side of the house as well and bring both together."
In fact, many of the civilians in FBPD have prior military experience, he added.
The patrol division is responsible for the safety, security and law enforcement for residents, visitors, employees, and dignitaries that work, visit and travel through Fort Belvoir, according to Capt. Steve Galay, officer in charge of the Fort Belvoir Police Department, Administrative Services Division.
"They are the face of the Fort Belvoir Police Department," Galay said.
In the average year, the patrol division and fire department respond to more than 24,000 calls for service combined, Galay said.
"We're here 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We handle everything from loose dogs to traffic accidents to damage to private property to assaults, sex crimes and mental health. We're dealing with drugs and guns and DUIs," Galay said. "The three most common arrests that we make are for DUI, domestic assault and shoplifting."
The patrol division has more than 50 civilian and military police officers, divided into three different shifts. They patrol the installation, Belvoir North in Springfield, Davison Army Airfield, and satellite communities like Woodlawn Village. They also share jurisdiction with the Fairfax County Police Department on Fort Belvoir's surrounding roads and highways.
Crawford said, in spite of recent budget cuts, the Fort Belvoir Police Department is still an excellent force and something community members can be proud of.
"Everybody's been affected by the budget and I'm proud that we've been able to still accomplish the mission while tightening our belts," he said. "They're very well equipped and very well trained, and I can say that from working at other agencies. They're very dedicated to their work."
For more information on the Fort Belvoir Police Department, visit https://www.belvoir.army.mil/des/law
enforcement.asp.
The Fort Belvoir Police Department phone number is (703) 806-3106.
Social Sharing