Patrol Division
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Wellesley Police Officers attend a 6 month Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council Academy, where they receive training on every aspect of law enforcement. Such topics include Massachusetts Criminal Laws, Use of Force, Traffic Laws, Community Policing, First Aid and CPR, and Emergency Driving. Officers are also given specialized training in narcotics, domestic violence, ethics, traffic direction, and firearms.
 Upon graduation of the academy, Wellesley Police Officers are assigned to a Field Training Officer (FTO) on a shift. The FTO is a senior officer who has attended a Field Training certification program, and is responsible for integrating the new officer’s academy training to the practical application on the street. A Wellesley Police Officer will complete at least 3 months of field training with an FTO prior to going on solo patrol.Although officers in patrol are primarily responsible for patrolling the town and answering calls for service, many officers have other duties and special assignments they complete. These vary in scope from Domestic Violence Officer, to the MetroLEC Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
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Patrol is the backbone of the Wellesley Police Department and is the most visible aspect of the job. The department has three shifts, which overlap during the course of a 24 hour period. Each shift has a sergeant in command and several police officers working patrol. Each officer is assigned to a specific area of town, called a sector. The officer is responsible for handling all of the calls within that sector. Additionally, the officer conducts all of the traffic enforcement, building checks, and assists other officers as needed.