Special Units & Assignments
These are some of the special units and assignments which Nixa Police Officers can be assigned to.
- Nixa Emergency Tactical Team
- K-9 Unit
- Bicycle Patrol
- Criminal Investigations
- Drone Unit
- D.A.R.E. Program
The Nixa Emergency Tactical Team (NETT) consists of eight team members (including a team leader) from the Nixa Police Department. All the members of the NETT team are expected to meet high standards of physical fitness, marksmanship, and professionalism.
The purpose of a highly trained, skilled police tactical unit has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of injury and loss of life to citizens, police officers, and suspects when the tactical unit is called upon to assist in the resolution of critical incidents.
The primary responsibility of the Nixa Emergency Tactical Team (NETT) is the containment and/or resolution of difficult police situations outside the realm of the ordinary patrol response, through the use of specialized skills, tactics, and equipment.
The following are some of the situations to which the NETT team responds:
- Hostage Situations
- Barricaded Subjects
- Sniper Situations
- High-risk Search Warrants
- Personal Protection (i.e. visiting dignitaries)
About Our K-9 Unit
The Nixa Police Department has had K9 Units serving our community consecutively for since 2011. Currently, the department utilizes a Belgian Malinois. The American Kennel Club describes the canine also known as Mal as a smart, confident, and versatile world-class worker who forges an unbreakable bond with his human partner. To deny a Mal activity and the pleasure of your company is to deprive him of his very reasons for being.
The police canines are utilized for a variety of tasks. Their keen sense of smell makes them a superior locating tool. They are able to search confined spaces as well as large open areas, locate items of evidentiary value, and find illicit drugs and explosives material. They are also used to track suspects, and locate lost people such as children and Alzheimer’s patients
Our K9 is cross-trained to serve in both a patrol function as well as in drug detection. The K9 Team trains in a variety of locations throughout the country. The K9 Team is put through rigorous training exercises and must pass demanding certification tests annually to be classified as active with our department.
Current Team: Officer Hilburn and K9 Jack
K9 Jack was born in 2018 in Hungary and has an official Passport that allowed him entrance into the United States. He has been a member of the Nixa Police Department since January of 2020. He is currently partnered with Officer Ronald Hilburn who has been serving the Nixa community since 2016. Jack is a dual-purpose Belgian Malinois and is trained in narcotics detection, article location / searches, tracking, and suspect apprehension and handler protection. Both Jack and Officer Hilburn underwent an intensive six-week training program together in Denver, Indiana in 2020.
In October of 2020 the Nixa Police Department’s K9 officer, Jack, received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Jack’s vest is embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Captain David Dorn, St. Louis, MO- EOW 6/2/20”.
K9 Jack Fun Facts:
Jack’s favorite game: BSD boxes
Jack’s favorite toy: Kong Ball
Jack’s favorite off duty activity: Just being a dog and exploring.
Jack’s favorite off duty activity with Ofc. Hilburn: Fetch
Bicycle Patrol is comprised of two Nixa Police Officers. Every Bicycle Patrol Officer must complete a week long training session where they receive specialized instruction. From riding up and down stairways to cone courses and emergency dismounts, officers who complete the session are capable of a vast array of maneuvers on a mountain bike.
Bicycle Patrol is beneficial to the Nixa Police Department for the ease of movement the bicycle can provide within an urban setting, in large crowds and on congested or closed roadways. Bicycle Patrol is primarily utilized to supplement vehicle and foot patrols at special events by the Nixa Police Department.
Criminal Investigations is responsible for the investigation and follow-up of crimes referred to Criminal Investigations. There are over 500 cases referred to Criminal Investigations annually. There are three detectives assigned to Criminal Investigations. The detectives are trained in various specialties such as crimes against children, sex crimes, death investigation, interview and interrogation techniques, truth verification and narcotics investigations. They also provide public education in areas such as internet safety and identity theft prevention. All cases referred to Criminal Investigations are reviewed for solvability factors. Case solvability is determined by the existence of leads. These leads must indicate the potential for successful arrest and conviction. If a case has a good chance of solvability, the case is assigned to a detective for follow-up. If sufficient leads do not exist, the case will be unassigned. If new information develops in the future, a case can be assigned to a detective for follow-up.
The Nixa Police Department operates a Drone Unit to support the department’s overall public safety mission. We can provide mutual aid to assist law enforcement agencies, emergency management, & fire services.
Our fleet consists of two drones. In 2022, we were awarded funding through a Homeland Security Grant to purchase our second drone. One drone is equipped with a thermal camera, wide-angle camera, and 56X hybrid zoom capability. Both drones capture high-definition photos & videos. They can fly during the day or night.
Our FAA Part 107 certified remote pilots operate under an approved set of standards and policy guidelines that are designed to achieve the department’s mission to support public safety and emergency management missions while being as non-intrusive as possible.
Authorized Missions
Situation Awareness
To assist decision-makers in understanding the nature, scale, and scope of an incident and for planning and coordinating an effective response to incidents such as a hazmat spill, or natural and man-made disasters.
Search & Rescue
To assist missing person investigations, such as AMBER Alerts, Silver Alerts, and other similar search and rescue missions.
Scene Documentation
To document and measure crime scenes, accident scenes, or other major incident scenes.
Visual Perspective
Provide real-time aerial perspective and assist in providing direction for crowd control, traffic incident management, special circumstances, and temporary perimeter security.
Tactical Deployment
To support the tactical deployment of officers and equipment in emergency situations to provide real-time information to enhance response and aid in both civilian and officer safety. Additionally, we can assist officers and K9 teams in locating suspects in the commission of a crime or suspected criminals fleeing from law enforcement.
Since 1991, the Nixa Police Department has been dedicated to empowering our youth with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about drug use and violence. Since implementation we have reached over 20,000 students, equipping them with valuable tools to navigate the challenges they face in today’s world.
Officer Forgey:
Officer Brent Forgey has been the heart and soul of our DARE program for over 25 years. His commitment, passion, and dedication have been instrumental in shaping the lives of countless students. With his extensive experience and genuine care for the community, Officer Forgey continues to make a lasting impact on the lives of our youth.
What is DARE?
DARE, which stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is a comprehensive drug and violence prevention program designed to empower students to lead safe, healthy lives. Through interactive lessons and activities, DARE teaches students the importance of making positive choices and resisting peer pressure.
Our Curriculum:
Our DARE curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Understanding the consequences of drug use and violence
- Building self-esteem and confidence
- Effective communication and decision-making skills
- Resisting peer pressure and negative influences
- Developing healthy relationships and boundaries
Join Us in Making a Difference:
We believe that education is the key to prevention. By investing in our youth and providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to make positive choices, we can create a safer, healthier community for everyone.
If you are interested in learning more about our DARE program you can contact us by email at pdweb@nixa.com or 417-725-2510 and ask to speak to Officer Forgey.
