Special Operations

The Anti-Crime Team (ACT) focuses on reducing crime in Huntsville’s highest-risk areas. These highly trained officers conduct surveillance, saturate problem neighborhoods, assist precincts with special operations and support investigators in locating wanted subjects.

ACT also serves as the city’s gang intelligence unit, gathering critical information to prevent crime and keep the community safe.

The Huntsville Police Bike Squad is one of the most utilized units in our department. The team is used to deploy officers into areas that an officer on foot or in a vehicle would simply not be effective.

They are regularly used at major events, parades, concerts, sporting events and gatherings throughout the city. The bike squad allows our department to quickly deploy officers into a range of environments that keep our community and its visitors safe.

The Bomb Squad was organized in 1971 to provide the capability to deal with explosive-related incidents. The bomb squad utilizes state-of-the-art robots and receives training in bomb/explosives identification. The unit utilizes numerous techniques to render hazardous devices safe.

HPD’s Community Relations Officers handle a variety of issues and act as liaisons between our department and the community. They are tasked with working with Community Watch and Civic Associations to solve a variety of community problems.

HPD’s Community Relations Officers also organize community events, work to meet our community member’s mental health needs, do code enforcement and work with homeless advocacy groups.

The Homeless Outreach Initiative (HOI) is a collaborative effort between the City of Huntsville’s Community Development Department and the Huntsville Police Department to address unsheltered homelessness.

HPD’s Community Outreach Unit plays a key role in engaging with individuals experiencing homelessness. These officers build relationships, connect people with resources and help ensure public safety while promoting compassion and accountability. Working alongside community partners, the unit helps identify solutions that improve efficiency and reduce homelessness across the City.

Crime Scene Investigators and Technicians are the behind-the-scenes experts who collect and preserve evidence so investigators can piece together the when, where, why and how of a crime. Their meticulous work often leads to arrests – and, ultimately, closure for victims and their families.

HPD’s new Crime Scene and Evidence Warehouse Complex takes that work to the next level. The $9.6 million facility brings Crime Scene Investigators and Digital Forensics teams under one roof, with a 14,000-square-foot lab building and a 13,500-square-foot climate-controlled warehouse for evidence and vehicle storage. This upgraded space strengthens investigations, streamlines operations and protects the integrity of every case.

The Crisis Negotiations Response Team (CNRT) supports all command post operations, providing specialized negotiation expertise during critical incidents. Each member is trained in negotiation-specific equipment and must complete the 40-hour Federal Bureau of Investigation Basic Negotiator Course.

To maintain readiness and effectiveness, CNRT members participate in ongoing training and scenario-based exercises, refining their skills and staying up to date with the latest negotiation strategies and technologies. This commitment ensures that when a critical incident occurs, the team can de-escalate situations safely, protect lives and provide essential support to officers and the community.

HPD’s Communications Division operates out of the Huntsville-Madison County 911 Center, a hub equipped with a state-of-the-art computer-aided dispatch system that ensures fast, efficient and coordinated responses to emergencies across the city. Every call matters, and our Dispatchers are the first point of contact for residents in need, connecting the public to the right resources and providing critical support to officers in the field.

Not sure if becoming a police officer is your path but still want to make a real difference in the community? Consider joining HPD as a Dispatcher. Working behind the scenes, Dispatchers are the vital link between the public and our officers, handling emergencies, coordinating responses and helping keep Huntsville safe and connected every single day. It’s a challenging, fast-paced role that makes a lasting impact on the community – proving that serving doesn’t always mean being on the front lines.

At the Huntsville Police Department, our Drone Unit is giving officers a new perspective – literally. Patrol officers trained as certified drone pilots use unmanned aerial technology to assist in search-and-rescue missions, locate missing persons, document crime and accident scenes from new perspectives and provide real-time aerial intelligence that helps keep both officers and citizens safe.

This innovative approach allows our officers to respond faster, make more informed decisions and reduce risk in potentially dangerous situations. Being part of HPD’s Drone Unit means combining traditional policing skills with advanced technology, working as part of a forward-thinking team and contributing directly to safer streets and neighborhoods.

HPD boasts a dedicated D.U.I. Task Force made up of specially trained officers focused solely on combating impaired driving. Using targeted traffic saturation patrols at state-identified hot spots, along with checkpoints and specialized enforcement details, they aggressively enforce traffic and D.U.I. laws to keep our roads safe.

Proudly, HPD is the only agency in the state with a full-time unit exclusively devoted to this mission – a game-changer in public safety.

Honor Guard members carry one of the most solemn responsibilities in law enforcement: honoring those who served and sacrificed. They stand watch over fallen officers during viewing ceremonies, perform the ceremonial flag fold at funerals, and accompany the moving bagpiper tribute that so many families hold dear.

Their service doesn’t stop at our city limits, either. The Honor Guard proudly represents HPD across the region, often traveling to support neighboring departments during line-of-duty funerals – standing shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow agencies in remembrance and solidarity.

The Incident Response Team (IRT) is HPD’s go-to group for high-pressure, high-impact situations. They support disaster relief efforts during events like tornadoes and floods, and they assist patrol units with perimeter containment and suspect apprehension. IRT members also train extensively to sharpen their shooting skills and operate effectively in tactical environments.

Every member is equipped to handle large-scale crowd control and dispersal, as well as critical officer-survival skills – from applying tourniquets to extracting injured officers to safety for medical care. Several IRT officers also receive specialized training to manage individuals wearing preventive or restrictive devices, ensuring these encounters are handled safely and effectively.

HPD has a range of specialized investigative units covering robbery, burglary, major crimes like assaults and homicides, theft, fraud, domestic violence, white-collar and electronic crimes and sex crimes.

These highly trained Investigators gather and analyze evidence, interview witnesses, interrogate suspects, obtain critical business and financial records, execute search warrants and prepare cases for prosecution – often testifying in court to ensure justice is served.

HPD’s K-9 Unit is one of the longest, continuously operating K-9 units in the nation. The officers and their canine partners are responsible for the detection of a number of items including narcotics and explosives. They also locate and apprehend criminal suspects in most any environment and assist our patrol and specialized units in numerous situations.

Our K-9 units also help in locating missing children, the mentally ill and the elderly when they go missing.

The North Alabama Multi-Agency Crime Center (NAMACC) is a multi-jurisdictional team specializing in technology to assist in criminal investigations. The center provides law enforcement agencies with the ability to effectively collaborate by using a wide range of technologies to provide efficient and effective policing.

NAMACC has dedicated labs for cellular and video forensics. The center uses cellular forensics, threat assessment, unmanned aerial vehicles, digital imaging and video recovery technologies to help fight crime.

Our patrol division operates on four 10-hour shifts, providing consistent coverage and rapid response across the City. As the heartbeat of our department, these officers answer a wide variety of calls for service, enforce traffic and criminal laws and tackle the day-to-day challenges our citizens face.

Patrol officers safeguard lives and property, apprehend criminals, investigate crimes and traffic accidents, collect evidence and respond to complex emergency situations – serving with dedication, professionalism and purpose every shift.

HPD’s Safety Patrol Aides plays a crucial role in protecting Huntsville’s youngest residents, providing trained crossing guards for both public and private schools throughout the city. Every day, Safety Patrol Aides help students safely navigate busy streets and hazardous intersections, supporting the safe arrival and departure of approximately 35,000 K-12 students.

Two civilian supervisors oversee the program, coordinating schedules, training and daily operations to maintain a high standard of safety and reliability. Through their vigilance and commitment, the Safety Patrol Aides create a secure environment that allows students, parents and school staff to feel confident in their daily routines, making a meaningful impact on the community every day.

HPD’s School Resource Officers play a crucial role in shaping safe, supportive learning environments across 37 Huntsville City Schools. Working closely with administrators, teachers and staff, these officers are dedicated to protecting students’ safety and well-being every day. Beyond enforcement, they build trusted, positive relationships with students – mentoring and guiding them throughout their academic journey.

As first responders during school emergencies and guardians at athletic events, they’re always ready to step up. Plus, during the summer, they stay active in the community by leading youth camps that keep kids engaged and empowered.

HPD’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) specializes in high-risk tactical situations. Officers sharpen specialized tactical skills and utilize specialty tools and weapons for serving high-risk warrants, barricaded suspects and hostile situations.

In addition, our SWAT team provides numerous dignitaries protection details. They also provide training for Huntsville Police Officers and outside agencies.

HPD’s Strategic Counterdrug Team (STAC) is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force headed up by the Huntsville Police Department. These specially trained officers use a variety of methods to confiscate narcotics, narcotic sales assets and dismantle drug trafficking organizations.

These agents work closely with other local drug task forces, the FBI, DEA, ATF, State and Federal Probations and US Marshals.

The Huntsville Police Department is dedicated to keeping our roads and community safe. HPD’s two traffic task forces work around the clock to enforce traffic laws and proactively address roadways with the highest risk of accidents and injuries.

Beyond enforcement, these officers also manage traffic operations at Huntsville’s many community events, ensuring safe and smooth experiences for residents and visitors alike. To request traffic enforcement, please call (256) 427-5580.