Did you know that Fort Worth has a Citizen on Patrol (COP) program?
Who are they?
What do they do?
We invite you to read the following and share it with the community of Fort Worth. Keep in mind that we also have a large number of Spanish speaking volunteers that are becoming Citizens on Patrol.
Citizens on Patrol
On October 15, 1991, 105 persons representing eleven neighborhoods attended a twelve-hour training session at the Fort Worth Police Academy. The training was conducted for three hours per night over a four-night period covering legal liabilities, patrol procedures, communications, and the penal code. At the conclusion of training each graduate was given a diploma, cap, T-shirt, and windbreaker each bearing the Citizens on Patrol insignia. After the initial program each citizen was required to ride in with a uniformed officer and meet with the officer in charge of the program in their division to go over any regulations established by the commander in charge of the area. Once accomplished, the individual is then released for citizen patrolling. Each Citizens on Patrol group selects a leader who completes the neighborhoods patrolling schedule and works on program development. The groups are furnished with 800 mhz portable radios, similar to those issued to police officers, to report suspicious activity back to their base station. The Base Stations may be housed at an individual's home or at the local Field Operations Division. The base unit then contacts police officers for a prompt response. The citizens can contact the dispatcher if necessary and a channel is available which allows the responding officer to directly contact the citizens patrol group to obtain additional information.
Nobody anticipated how successful the Citizens on Patrol Program would be. Over 2,666 volunteers remain active in 120 neighborhoods. The program has been credited with being a primary factor in decreases in Part I Crimes especially those of theft, burglary, and auto theft. It is also serving as a catalyst in strengthening neighborhoods, and remains in an expansion mode. Advanced training has been instituted at the Field Operations Divisions and the department has a biannual recognition luncheon for all COPS members and their families. Finally, they have provided general support services to the neighbors in the area to which they are assigned, ranging from trash pick-ups to encouragement of persons to move into their area.
If you encounter a citizen who is interested in joining a Citizen on Patrol group, please call the coordinator for your patrol division:
North Division - Brenda Fitts - (817) 392-3542
4651 North Main Street
FAX (817) 392-3538
West Division - Gerald Huck- (817) 392-4706
3525 Marquita Street 76116
FAX (817) 392-4739
South Division - Warner Filley - (817) 392-3418
3128 W. Bolt 76110
FAX (817) 392-3468
East Division - Shirlee Brown Wilkinson- (817) 392-4673
1100 Nashville, 76105
FAX (817) 392-4639
Central Division - Calvin Clayton - (817) 392-3973
501 Jones Street
FAX (817) 392-3935
Officer Daniel Segura (817) 925-5360 for Spanish Speaking Citizens
Westcliff West Neighborhood Association