The Billings Police Department is a police department in Billings, Montana, the main law enforcement service in Billings, Montana. It is the largest city police force in Montana with about 142 sworn officers/80 civilian employees covering 41sqmi and a population of about 105,000. The city is divided into nine beats and patrolled by 75 officers.Units/DivisionsK-9 unitThe K-9 unit was formed in the 1970s. It currently has 4 dogs that assist suspect apprehension and drug searches.Bicycle unitThe bicycle unit was formed in 1997.Motorcycle unitThe motorcycle unit was established in 2000 with about 5 motorcycle police officers.SWATThe Billings Police Department has a full tactical SWAT team.Bomb SquadThe bomb squad was formed in the 1980s. In 2005, the Bomb Squad received its first BDR, (bomb disposal robot), with a camera, two way radio and a disposal arm. It is also used in hostage negotiations.InvestigationsThe Billings Police Departments has 20 detectives on its force. This unit is commanded by a Captain, Lieutenant and Sgt.http://ci.billings.mt.us/index.aspx?NID=230Controversy In 2001, the Billings Police Department settled a Racial profiling case for $50,000 with the ACLU. Some 28 current and former Billing Police officers filed a lawsuit in January 2009 claiming that the city miscalculated their pay, possibly dating as far back as 1994. In October 2012, members of a city/county SWAT deployed a flash grenade in a home they were raiding. The device went off and burned a twelve-year-old girl. Although the team was looking for a drug-manufacturing lab, they found nothing and made no arrests. The child was treated at a local hospital.
