Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is accreditation and what does it do for the Police Department?
2. When can I pick up a copy of a police report?
3. If the property I found and turned into the police department is not claimed, can I have it?
6. How do I file a complaint about a police department employee?
7. How do I get information about the Alarm Ordinance?
8. What programs or services does the Police Department offer that would benefit my family or me?
1.What is accreditation and what does it do for the Police Department?
Accreditation lists standards that the agency must meet to qualify for accreditation. These standards tell an agency what it should do, how to do it is up to the agency. The standards cover 6 major topic areas:
1. Relationships with other agencies.
2. Organization and administration.
3. Personnel administration.
4.
Law enforcement operations.
5. Prisoner and court related services.
6.
Technical services.
2. When can I pick up a copy of a police report?
You can email the police department Records Unit at pdrecords@margatefl.com to obtain a copy of a report.
Report pick-up hours: 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. Monday through Friday. After hours, fill out a form at the Police Department and the report will be mailed to you.
Fees: $ .15 single
page
$ .20
double sided
$1.00 per page certified true copies
Faxing is done only in emergencies.
Alarm Applications: $25.00 one time fee, 8AM - 5:45 PM. Applications can be picked up at the main P.D., at Public Works, 101 Rock Island Rd. or at Neighborhood Policing Office at 311 South State Road 7.
Equipment checks (vehicles ticketed for equipment violations), payment of parking fees and obtaining copies of photos of crimes and auto accidents: 8a-6p, Monday-Thursday, excluding legal holidays.
3. If the property I found and turned into the police department is not claimed, can I have it?
Yes. First the person who found the property must post a $30.00 fee with the department within 30 days of the date the property was found. If it has not been claimed after 90 days, the property can be turned over to the person who found it.
4. What is needed to claim property which was stolen from me and was recovered by the police department?
All that is needed is a copy of the police report listing the stolen property and some form of picture identification that identifies you as the person who made the report.
5. Why does the police department sometimes hold a person’s property when someone responsible for stealing it is arrested?
It is sometimes necessary to hold property as evidence in case it is needed at trial. We try to photograph property whenever possible and return it to the owner.
6. How do I file a complaint about a police department employee?
You can call the police department and ask to speak to a supervisor. A Personnel Complaint Report will be filled out by the supervisor, or will be mailed to you to fill out. A copy of the complaint will be mailed to you. If possible, you can come to the police department and fill it out yourself. You will be given a copy of the complaint. You will be notified of the results of the complaint investigation. In most cases complaints are investigated by the officer’s or employee’s supervisor. Serious complaints are assigned to the Professional Standards Division.
7. How do I get information about the Alarm Ordinance?
The purpose of the Alarm Ordinance is to encourage security alarm users and alarm businesses to maintain the operational reliability and the proper use of alarm systems thereby limiting unnecessary police emergency responses to false alarms/alarm malfunctions.
Alarm ordinance applications and information packets can be picked up at three locations: the Police Department at 5790 Margate Blvd., Public Works, 101 Rock Island Rd. and the Neighborhood Policing Division at 311 South State Road 7. The information packets contain what you need to know about getting a permit, the one time fee of $25.00, the $100.00 assessment for anyone operating a non- permitted alarm system, alarm system operation and maintenance, false alarm notifications and fine schedule, and revocation or loss of the alarm permit.