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C.O.P - Citizens on Patrol
Leander Citizens on Patrol
Please note: Applicants for the Leander Citizens on Patrol program must be prior graduates of the Leander Police Department's Basic Citizen's Police Academy, with a preference for those who have attended the Advanced Citizen's Police Academy.
Citizens Patrol is a philosophy of policing based on the concept that Police Officers and Private Citizens working together in creative ways can help solve community-related problems. Some of these problems are: crime, safety, fear, social and physical disorders, and neighborhood decay.
Graduates of the Leander Citizen's Patrol Academy provide a tremendous community resource, utilizing their training to address community and neighborhood crime concerns. The Leander Police Department has made a commitment to establish a relationship with the community that will break down barriers, reduce community tensions, open new avenues of communication, and provide constructive and meaningful opportunities for collaboration.
The primary mission of the Leander Police Department Citizen's Patrol Program is to reduce crime and the fear of crime, improve the quality of life through the development of community awareness and form a partnership between the community and the Leander Police Department.
The Citizen's Patrol program is utilized by the Leander Police Department to make available more resources to better serve our community and is conducted in a manner that allows for participation in combating criminal behavior and supporting police operations, but minimizes the exposure to risk factors.
In addition, applications are currently being accepted for Citizen's on Patrol. Contact staff at 512-528-2812, please leave a message or email Community Services for an application packet.
Please be advised, persons participating in the Citizen's Patrol program must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Must be a full-time resident of Williamson or Travis County, Texas
- Have a valid Texas driver's license or be active military with a valid out-of-state driver's license, and maintain a satisfactory driving record.
- Have no felony convictions. Misdemeanors are subject to review
- Have no outstanding warrants for arrest
- Successfully complete the Leander Police Department Basic Citizens Police Academy
- Must have completed, or be enrolled in the next available Leander Police Department Advanced Citizen's Police Academy (within 1 year of appointment). Selected LCP members will have priority to participate in the ACPA.
- Must have access to and be able to use a computer
- Agree to perform the required 16 hours per month, with at least eight of those hours being patrol duties. Members of LCP are encouraged to participate in other details and special events throughout the City of Leander in addition to the 8 hours of Patrol.
- Agree to comply with LCP Policies Procedures and directives
- Pass a thorough background investigation and interview
- Be willing to submit to a polygraph or drug test at the discretion of the Leander Police Department
- Be able to stand for four hours, lift 30 pounds, and be willing to disclose any medical conditions that would prevent the member from fulfilling the requirements of membership.
- Complete the next Leander Citizen's Patrol Academy upon acceptance
Volunteer Disqualifiers
The Leander Police Department will strictly enforce the denial of an individual who cannot meet our minimum requirements.
Automatic Disqualifiers
- Failure to properly complete and provide character references, employment information, and other information requested on the application or Personal History Statement.
- Violations of the Leander Police Department or Leander Citizen Patrol standard operating procedure of policies.
- Been convicted of a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in Texas.
- Been arrested for crimes of moral turpitude.
- Used (tried), sold Marijuana, possessed Marijuana, or used Marijuana other than for experimentation. Experimentation cannot be within 5 years of applying.
- Used (tried), sold, or possessed any dangerous drugs or narcotics including cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD, Methamphetamine, etc.
- Been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces.
- Had a pattern of abusing prescription drugs.
- Had 5 or more traffic violations within the past five years.
- Been previously employed as a law enforcement officer and since has committed or violated federal, state, or city laws pertaining to criminal activity.
- Lied during any stage of the volunteer screening or acceptance process.
- Falsified any portion of their questionnaire or application.
- Please note: The possession, carrying, or attempt to carry a firearm on city premises to include all city facilities, vehicles, and any other applicable city property. This includes all individuals who possess a permit to carry a concealed handgun.
- Possession of any firearms or other objects is considered an illegal weapon as defined by the Texas Penal Code. Examples of some of the items are an expandable baton (asp), illegal knives, brass knuckles, etc.
Discretionary Disqualifiers
The following disqualifiers may, upon review by the Leander Police Department, make you, the applicant, ineligible and will be used to release a member from the Volunteer program at any time.
- Non Completion of all required applications and paperwork required to be filled out and signed by volunteers.
- Failure to complete the required in-house training or academies necessary to properly train departmental volunteers.
- A physical or mental disability that would substantially impair an individual's ability to perform his/her duties or pose a threat to the safety of themselves or others.
- Alcohol misuse and/or abuse prior to and/or during the volunteer term.
- Commission of any felony prior to and/or during any volunteer term.
- Any other conduct or pattern of conduct that would tend to disrupt, diminish, or otherwise jeopardize the public trust in the Law Enforcement Profession.
- Breaches in Confidentiality.
- The removal, copying, transmittal, or release of any information considered confidential or non-confidential.
- Verbal release of any confidential information.
- Inappropriate behavior relating to sexual harassment or any other types of racial slurs.
- Any act or behavior tending to bring reproach or discredit on themselves or the department.