The Harrisburg Bureau of Police is a Internationally Accredited agency and earned this prestigious status in 1989 after an intensive on-site assessment conducted by the national Commission of Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies. With over 21,000 law enforcement agencies in the country, only 600 have achieved this recognition. In 1994, 1999, 2002, 2005 and again in 2008, the Bureau was re-accredited after on-site assessments.
The commanding officer of the Bureau is the . His office is responsible for the management of available resources to ensure that Bureau mission, goals and objectives are achieved. The Chief’s office is responsible for the direct supervision of the Internal Affairs Unit, Crime Prevention Unit/Community Relations Unit and the Accreditation Manager. The Chief also manages and directs three primary divisions within the Bureau, each commanded by a Captain: Uniformed Patrol, Technical Services and Criminal Investigation.
The largest division is the . This division, commanded by the Bureau’s Uniformed Patrol Commander, is comprised of three platoons of uniformed officers. These uniformed officers are on the "front line" of law enforcement every day and respond directly to the public’s calls for service. The Bureau’s Parking Enforcement and Animal Control Units also report directly to the Uniformed Patrol Commander. Both units consist of civilian personnel.The is comprised of units that serve a variety of functions. The Bureau’s Training, Property Management, Abandoned Vehicle, Warrant/Process Service, Court Liaison/Special Events Officer, Report Writer and Communications Center personnel are assigned to the division.
The investigates adult and juvenile crimes referred by the Uniformed Patrol Division. The division is comprised of several units: Adult Offender, Juvenile Offender, Organized Crime and Vice Control, Special Operations, Forensic, Auto Theft, Habitual Offender, Domestic Violence and Arson. The primary goal of this division is to resolve crimes through state-of-the-art and professional criminal and forensic investigative techniques and processes.
In 2008, the Bureau consisted of approximately 207 sworn and civilian personnel. All of these individuals contribute to the successful operation of the Harrisburg Bureau of Police.