The California Police Department offers a number of services and programs, in addition to what would be considered regular police activities.
One of the more interesting, if not actually fun, things California police officers do is go to various child care programs in the city to familiarize the young people with "community helpers" and "public service personnel." The officers pass out sticker badges, coloring books, balloons and sometimes stuffed animals.
The department has other programs and activities to increase the safety and security of the public.
One is Project Night Eyes, a random night-time security check of businesses, with a card pushed under the door of the business checked. There is a MedReturn Drug Collection box for collecting unwanted or unneeded pharmaceuticals. Another is that of security checks of storage units. Yet another is the vacation checks made by officers.
Recently, the department held a Bank Robbery Prevention Training session, to help bank employees learn more about what to do and how to react, in case of a problem.
These programs are only a few ways the City of California Police Department serve the community 24/7 with a full time staff of seven officers, three reserve officers and a police clerk. The department is assisted in serving the public by the 911 Emergency Dispatch Center. The department has seven fully-equipped pursuit vehicles dispatched by radio.
The California Police Department works out of a facility designated "Police Department" by letters on the east side of the California City Hall. The police reception area, staffed by the police clerk, is reached through a separate entrance on the south side of the building or via a connecting door from the west or main entrance of the City Hall.
The department includes separate offices for the police chief, captain and sergeant; five cubicles for the full-time and reserve officers, and a break room. There is also a separate booking area, two interview rooms and an evidence room.
There is a garage, which can be used to secure impounded vehicles or maintain police vehicles during inclement weather.
In addition to Police Chief Mike Ward, Captain Dale Embry, Sgt. Kevin Feltrop and Clerk Kathy Roll, full-time personnel are: Rafael Ayola, Daniel Hurt, Keith Strutton and the newest officer, Tyler Davis. Reserve officers are: Scott Harkins, Lindell Reed and John McNay.
The officers are certified with POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training). POST certification is done by the Missouri Department of Public Safety. The officers also go through continued law enforcement education.
All of this from a department which started with one night police officer, who started July 13, 1950, with a single desk in the California City Hall, and one basic two-door sedan police car.