Captain Ali Miri
Central Division Commander
San Jose Police Department

Phone: 408-277-4631

Central Division includes four patrol districts totaling approximately 39 square miles. We have a population of close to 200,000 residents in the Central Division, but it fluctuates during the day because many major computer businesses are located in the Central Division such as Paypal and Samsung. Furthermore, San Jose City Hall and the majority of the Santa Clara County Government Offices (District Attorney’s Office and the County Courts) are located in the Central Division. We also have high density housing in the Downtown area.

Central Division is roughly bordered by downtown on the south end extending north to the City of Alviso marina at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay. The eastern border is US Highway 101 and Interstate 880 and the western border is the City of Santa Clara.

Some other recognizable landmarks located in Central Division is San Jose State University, the Peralta Adobe built in 1797, and the home of the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center. Historical neighborhoods, such as Little Portugal and Japantown reflect the strong ethnic diversity of San Jose are also located in the Central Division.

Central Division Team

The Central Division is commanded by a Police Captain. The Central Division Command Staff and Supervision report to the Captain and currently consists of four Lieutenants and 18 Sergeants. Each Sergeant supervises teams of officers assigned to one of the 28 police teams who cover all three shifts, 24/7. We have walking beats in the downtown area and the Downtown Services Unit (DSU), supervised by a Sergeant who reports directly to the Police Captain. We also have a compliment of non-sworn staff from our Crime Prevention Unit assigned to the Central Division who facilitate numerous neighborhood and business meetings throughout the year.

Community Service Officers

This is a civilian position in the Police Department. Community Service Officers are assigned to the Central Division and are deployed 7 days a week in the field to assist police officers by responding to and investigating lower priority calls for service so police officers will be available to respond to higher priority emergency calls for service and have more time for proactive enforcement. The Community Service Officers do not perform any enforcement duties nor make arrests, but they do issue parking citations and tow abandoned vehicles.

Crime Prevention Unit

Our Crime Prevention Specialists are also an integral part of our team. They have tremendous experience and are an invaluable asset in teaching community members to become more cohesive and to work with us in making our neighborhoods safer. I have the utmost confidence that my staff will provide the best service possible to all those who live, work, and play in the Central Division. The safety of our community is a shared responsibility and crime prevention is everybody's business.

Honor Guard

The Honor Guard and Ceremonial Unit have the responsibility of conducting flag raising ceremonies and honor guard details at special events. The special events include Police Department sponsored functions, parades and officer funerals. The Honor Guard and Ceremonial Unit is a collateral assignment and it consists of 20 officers, 2 sergeants and 1 lieutenant.

Crime Prevention Tip

Because we live in the Bay Area with a micro-climate weather environment, we get to enjoy , outdoor activities, fresh air, yard work and vacations. However, open entry doors, garage doors, and windows and time spent away from home also provide more time, access and opportunities for burglars. You can enjoy the warmer weather and protect yourself from home burglary by following a few easy tips:

• Occupy rooms when doors, sliding doors, and windows are open.
• Remember to close and lock doors and windows when away from home even for short periods of time.
• Close garage doors while doing yard work to keep personal property, especially tools and bikes, safe and out of sight.
• Close and lock side gates after yard work or family events.

For more burglary prevention tips and a video view our Crime Prevention Tips.