CDE CAD FiveM Police Department Setup: Ranks, Units & MDT Configuration

The police department is the backbone of most FiveM roleplay servers, and the quality of its CAD and MDT tools directly impacts every officer's experience. CDE CAD FiveM provides a comprehensive police department module that covers everything from custom rank structures and division management to a full-featured Mobile Data Terminal with lookups, report writing, citation processing, and warrant management. This guide walks you through configuring every aspect of your police department within CDE CAD FiveM to create the most realistic and functional law enforcement experience possible.

Building Your Rank Structure

A well-defined rank structure is essential for any police department, and CDE CAD FiveM gives you complete control over how your ranks are organized. You can create as many or as few ranks as your community needs, each with its own permissions, badge number format, and access level. The rank structure in CDE CAD FiveM also integrates with Discord role syncing, so when a member is promoted in the CAD, their Discord roles can update automatically. For a real-world starting point, Wikipedia on police ranks sets out the US structure most servers copy.

Below is an example rank structure that many communities use as a starting point when configuring their police department in CDE CAD FiveM. Each rank can be customized with specific permissions that control what tools and data the officer can access through the MDT.

Division and Unit Configuration

Beyond ranks, CDE CAD FiveM supports organizing your police department into divisions and specialized units. Common divisions include Patrol, Detective Bureau, Traffic Enforcement, Special Weapons and Tactics, Gang Unit, and Internal Affairs. Each division can have its own chain of command, operational procedures, and access permissions within the CDE CAD FiveM system.

Division assignment in CDE CAD FiveM affects what an officer sees on their MDT dashboard. A traffic unit officer might see vehicle-related calls prioritized in their queue, while a detective would have quick access to case files and evidence management tools. This customization ensures that each officer's MDT experience is tailored to their specific role within the department.

Specialized units can also be configured with unique call signs, vehicle assignments, and operational areas. When dispatchers see units on the dispatch console, they can immediately identify each unit's specialty and make informed assignment decisions based on the nature of incoming calls.

MDT Features for Law Enforcement

The Mobile Data Terminal is where officers spend most of their time within CDE CAD FiveM, and the platform delivers a feature-rich MDT experience designed to support every aspect of patrol operations and investigations. Here are the core MDT features available to police officers.

Report Writing and Records

Report writing is a fundamental part of police work, and CDE CAD FiveM provides structured report templates that guide officers through creating thorough incident reports, arrest reports, use of force reports, and supplemental narratives. Each report type includes relevant fields for involved parties, witnesses, evidence collected, and narrative sections where officers document the details of the incident.

The report system in CDE CAD FiveM includes a supervisor review workflow. When an officer submits a report, it enters a review queue where supervisors can approve, request revisions, or add supplemental information. This mirrors real-world police report processes and adds a layer of quality control that enhances the overall roleplay experience.

All reports within CDE CAD FiveM are automatically linked to the relevant person records, vehicle records, and incident records. This cross-referencing means that when an officer looks up a person, they can see every report and incident associated with that individual, building a comprehensive history that enriches future encounters.

Best Practices for Police Department Configuration

Based on feedback from hundreds of communities using CDE CAD FiveM for their police operations, here are some best practices for setting up your department. Start with a simpler rank structure and expand as your community grows. Overly complex hierarchies with too many ranks can create confusion and make promotions feel less meaningful.