Citizens Police Academy

[surprise_i'm_armed]

The Lake Dallas police department ran such an academy.
They purchased a brand new bright yellow Tahoe and had
all the decal work done that says "Lake Dallas PD Citizens
on Patrol" or similar.

In the 2 or more years that they have had this Tahoe, I have
seen it leave its steady parking spot at the Lake Dallas cop
shop....... TWICE. No one ever drives it!!

What a waste of money. Just re-decal this puppy with the
proper LDPD signs, paint it white like the rest of the fleet,
and let real cops use this thing.

The way it's being utilized now, the tires are going to go flat
from lack of use.

[CrimsonSoul]

Lake Jackson has a citizens on patrol PD car that I see at wal-mart sometimes on the weekends

[Bill]

Galveston doesn't have COP yet but they are working on it. In the mean time, we were trained to work as citizens policing handicapped parking spaces. We will be sworn in soon and will patrol, in pairs, and issue citations when a handicapped parking violation is found. I'm lookinmg forward to working in that capacity.

And the above is the reason so many of us will not participate.
None of us are waiting for someone to "make our day" but I can sure see BIG trouble when "citizen" tries to write a citation on a vehicle parked in a handicapped spot. Owner inside applying for job. That was the only spot w/o walking a good long way. Owner comes out, his 17th day out of TDC for possession of crack & armed robbery, mad cause the place wont give him a job as accountant, hungry & the air conditioned gym "back there" is lookin pretty good right now.
LT

I would have to agree in some respects with your take on COPS, but this is not the case with a lot of COP positions. There are about 450 COPS working in the HPD system that volunteer their time. A lot of these are collage or young people that would like to get a feel for positions in HPD whether its LEO or non LEO. There are countless CPA'S, 41 classes completed with average attendance about 25. We also have the PIPS which I am a director, this is a interaction program directed by HPD to inform and educate citizens of all aspects HPD, and other offices that affect the safety and well being of citizen's a daily basis. I just had District Attorney Pat Lykos to talk this month, the Chief Hurt is next month, have had Gang ,Narcotics, Human trafficking, Home Safety to name a few

When I joined the COPS program a few years back and was assigned a location and a Sargent. I was able to access TCIC/NCIC for various reasons, was taught fingerprinting by HPD fingerprinting dept, and have made 25 tactical operations with HPD. I was a component of our unit and worked more operations than any one officer. Yes there is some danger but probably more so just backin out of the driveway.I think I have given back to my community in a positive way by serving.
Bill

[Commander]

This brings up an interesting question. If a COP volunteer and the policy is that you can't carry, but you do so anyway. What action could be taken against you if it was discovered you were carrying? I can see being thrown out of the program, but other than that????

[Bill]

you would be relieved of your non paying job .

[C-dub]

Just like in another thread, it depends on how you were informed of the policy. If you were told or received written notification of 30.06 in English and Spanish then you could be prosecuted and lose your CHL. Otherwise, like Bill said, you would be relieved of your non-paying job.

[boomerang]

Just like in another thread, it depends on how you were informed of the policy. If you were told or received written notification of 30.06 in English and Spanish then you could be prosecuted and lose your CHL. Otherwise, like Bill said, you would be relieved of your non-paying job.

Government property?

[dicion]

Just like in another thread, it depends on how you were informed of the policy. If you were told or received written notification of 30.06 in English and Spanish then you could be prosecuted and lose your CHL. Otherwise, like Bill said, you would be relieved of your non-paying job.

Government property?

Not an exception to being fired just prosecution

[KD5NRH]

If you were told or received written notification of 30.06 in English and Spanish then you could be prosecuted and lose your CHL.

Could a 30.06 notification apply to a car? Frankly, the "this property" language sounds like they'd have to have the written notice in the car for it to work. Otherwise, you're not on property they have enough authority over to give notice. Verbal notice is iffy, since you might have been in the bathroom during the 15 seconds when they gave notice to the rest of the class.

[Commander]

That's the reason I asked the question. 30.06 is not valid on Government property (with certain exceptions for meetings and courts)....be that a building or a car....What effect would the verbal warning have? Is it not the same?

[Bill]

Maybe you can keep it deep concealed. You know the consequences if your caught, however it may save the life of you and your partner. You also understand why its restricted, it could create a huge headache if you were in a shootout, shot who knows what by accident ( use your imagination).

Another note: You might consider COPing outside of where you live. I have been recognized by security guards at some of the businesses we have visited more than once. I am sure others may know me , this involves Gang bangers as well.
Bill

[Commander]

I wasn't considering COP....Reading the posts about the restrictions on COP members brought to mind the limitations of government to prohibit CHL holders and how that applied or didn't apply in this situation.