Rockwall Police Department - Community Services

Home Citizens on Patrol Texas Night Out UNIDOS Crime Stoppers Operation ID RCAPP Residential Security Mental Health Youth Cadet Program

COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION
The Rockwall Police Department Community Services Division offers a wide variety of informative and proactive community programs. These programs are aimed at educating the citizens of Rockwall about their police department and ways that they might be able to protect themselves and their property. The Community Services Division is located inside Technology Park:

2610 Observation Trail #103
Rockwall, Texas 75032
(972) 771-7765 or (972) 771-7769

The Community Services Division is typically open Monday - Friday 8:00am until 4:00pm. Feel free to contact the Community Services Division regarding crime prevention programs or to request that an officer speak at your meeting. All services offered by the Community Services Division are completely free of charge!

For Additional Information on any of the programs listed here, please contact:

Officer Chris Cleveland

Email: ccleveland@rockwall.com or (972) 772-6746

Officer David Andrews
Email: dandrews@rockwall.com or (972)772-6707

CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY
The Rockwall Police Department Citizens Police Academy was established in 1987 to provide adequate information to citizen attendees so that they might make educated and informed judgments regarding the police department and police activity. The CPA has been successful in increasing public awareness about the law enforcement profession and strengthening partnerships between the community and police department. The CPA has truly become a mutual learning experience for both citizens and officers alike.

The Citizens Police Academy is a 30 hour block of comprehensive instruction which allows citizens to experience and learn about law enforcement topics that are important to them. Some of the topics covered include:

Training & Telecommunications
Criminal Investigations
DWI Enforcement
Crime Prevention
Domestic Violence
Narcotics Investigations
K-9 Operations
Recruitment & Hiring
Accident Investigations
Traffic Enforcement
A day at the Police Firing Range.

The Citizens Police Academy is a beneficial exercise for both citizens and officers, allowing each to learn from the other. Attendance is open to anyone living or working in the County of Rockwall. Applicants should have a clear criminal history and must be at least 21 years of age. The cost of the course is $25, which covers binders and other classroom materials.

CITIZENS ON PATROL
The Rockwall Police Department has a very active Citizens On Patrol Program. The main purpose of the Citizens On Patrol Program is to bring together citizens and their police department in a cooperative effort to make our city safer. Citizens On Patrol (COP) members are citizen volunteers who either live or work in the City of Rockwall. To become a member of the COP, participants must have successfully completed the Citizens Police Academy. Each COP member is also required to attend additional training, which is known as the Citizens On Patrol Mini Academy. This “mini academy” requires each member to participate in a defensive driving course, classroom training, and scenario-based training in order to be able to actively participate in the Citizens On Patrol Program. All training is provided by the Rockwall Police Department free of charge.

The Citizens On Patrol program was started in January 1998 with eight members. Today, there are nearly 40 active COP members. Last year, COP Volunteers donated approximately 6300 hours of service, saving the city and community an estimated $238,000. In addition to normal patrol duties, COP members have assisted during parades, concerts, high school football games, 4th of July celebrations, and numerous other special events. The Rockwall Police Department is extremely proud of its COP volunteers.

Potential COP members must be at least 21 years of age, have a valid driver’s license and no Class A or B misdemeanor convictions nor felony convictions. Each applicant must successfully complete a thorough background examination and interview process.

TEXAS NIGHT OUT
National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime,” was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch in 1984. This annual event was traditionally held in August, but in 2008, the Texas Police Chiefs Association requested that this event be moved to the first Tuesday of October due to the extreme Texas heat. Every year, thousands of Rockwall residents participate in Texas Night Out by turning on their porch lights, locking their doors and spending the evening outside with their neighbors. Many communities plan block parties, cookouts, and parades. Each community event within the city is attended by Rockwall Police Department officers. This community-based event is designed to unite citizens of Rockwall against crime, reinforce community-police partnerships and strengthen neighborhood spirit.

YOUTH CADET PROGRAM
The Rockwall Police Department Law Enforcement Youth Cadet Program is a program that is designed to introduce youth to all aspects of law enforcement. The Police Cadet program provides young men and women the opportunity to learn about the possible career choices available in law enforcement today, and it also offers participants the opportunity to learn about police techniques and procedures in a classroom and practical environment.

The Police Cadet Program strives to build good character and promote good citizenship while encouraging participants to develop personal and mental fitness.

To become a member of the Police Youth Cadet Unit, you must be between the ages of 14 and 20 years of age, have parental permission if under the age of 17, be enrolled in school, and maintain a “C” average in each subject and be in good physical condition and of sound mind. In addition, you must pass a thorough background investigation and a review board. Once accepted into the program, each Cadet must complete the Basic Cadet Training Program which will be taught by Police Cadet Advisors.

Cadet Ride Along Program

This program allows Cadets to get firsthand knowledge of police patrol procedures. Cadets can ride with a police officer in the field during a normal tour of duty upon completing a training program approved by Unit Advisory Staff. Cadets will observe, experience and learn law enforcement first hand.

Cadets are volunteers and are not commissioned as sworn peace officers and have no enforcement authority beyond that of any citizen.

To learn more about the Police Cadet Program please contact:

Sgt. Steven Brassil

Email: sbrassil@rockwall.com or (972) 772-6776

Officer Chris Cleveland

Email: ccleveland@rockwall.com or (972) 772-6746

NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH
Join millions of people throughout the nation by joining a Neighborhood Crime Watch group. The idea behind Neighborhood Crime Watch is simple: look out for your neighbor while he looks out for you. Neighborhood Crime Watch is a self-help program teaming citizens and the police. Calls to the police reporting suspicious activity are encouraged. This program has proven effective. The Crime Prevention Unit can help a neighborhood organize and facilitate meetings.

After three initial meetings and the satisfaction of the attendance requirement (50% of the neighborhood), signs announcing that yours is a “Neighborhood Crime Watch Community” may be erected. Neighborhood Crime Watch groups are organized along geographic lines and should be of a manageable size. Operation of the group is the responsibility of the neighborhood, although members of the Crime Prevention Unit are available for suggestions, guidance and the presentation of topics of significance to your particular neighborhood.

OPERATION ID
The Rockwall Police Department Property Identification Program is designed to reduce burglaries and increase the likelihood of property that has been stolen to be recovered. The Property Identification Program allows residents to place stickers on electronics-related items, such as televisions and computers, that can be scanned by Rockwall Police Officers in event the item is stolen.

This program provides residents with identification stickers that can be placed on their electronics and other valuables. Property that is marked and the serial numbers recorded have a much higher chance of being recovered if stolen. In addition, the program provides residents with sheets for them to record their serial numbers and a compact disc for them to store pictures of valuables, such as jewelry. Property Identification Program participants will also be given a yard sign and window stickers to mark their home as one participating in this program.

RCAPP CLERGY & POLICE PARTNERSHIP
RCAPP is a community program offered to local pastors who want to partner with the police department. The program offers training that will enable pastors in assisting the Rockwall Police Department in times of need for our officers and the Rockwall community. Attendees are given instruction on the operation of the police department and the court system.

For more information about the Rockwall Clergy and Police Partnership (RCAPP), contact
Officer David Andrews: (972) 772-6707 or Email: dandrews@rockwall.com.

CRIME STOPPERS
Rockwall County Crime Stoppers, Inc. is a certified program and follows the guidelines set forth by the Texas Crime Stopper Advisory Council. Since 1990, the program has proven its value on multiple occasions. The Crime Stoppers concept has demonstrated how valuable citizen-law enforcement cooperative efforts can be by recovering hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of stolen property and illicit narcotics.

Crime Stoppers provides tipsters with three avenues to submit tips. Tips may be submitted through the Crime Stoppers tip line at (972) 771-TIPS, on the website, or via text message by texting “Rockwall,” plus your message, to “CRIMES” (274637). Tips are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers are assigned numbers so anonymity, if desired, is guaranteed. Rewards of up to $1,000.00 are paid for tips which lead to the arrest and/or indictment of individuals who have committed felonious and select misdemeanor offenses. Rockwall County Crime Stoppers, Inc. is governed by a seven (7) person Board of Directors. Board members are dedicated and concerned citizens who act to make our community a safer place to live. Law enforcement representatives serve in an advisory capacity to the Board.

In addition to the County Crime Stoppers Board, each middle and high school campus within the Rockwall Independent School District and the Royse City Independent School District maintain thriving Campus Crime Stoppers programs. Both program maintains a student Board of Directors. Rockwall Campus Crime Stoppers programs enjoy great support and success and have proven to be effective tools for maintaining safe and drug-free campuses.

Rockwall Police Department RESIDENTIAL BUSINESS SECURITY
Specially trained Community Service Officers are available to meet with home/business owners with the purpose of conducting a security survey. Items surveyed include locks, lighting, landscaping, and alarms. The officer will make realistic recommendations to the home/business owner in hopes of “target hardening” their property and reducing the likelihood of them becoming a victim of crime. This service is available to the citizens of Rockwall at no cost.

Along with this free service, our Community Service Officers are available to perform an insurance reduction survey for homeowners at no cost. The inspection examines physical security hardware (e.g. locks) and/or alarm systems. A successful inspection can reduce your insurance premiums by 5% for security hardware and 15% for alarm system. The premium reductions can be combined for a possible 20% reduction at the discretion of the home owner’s insurance company.

Rockwall Police Department MENTAL HEALTH OFFICER
The Community Services Division also oversees the Mental Health Unit. This unit specializes in providing support and information to citizens who are undergoing a mental health crisis. Support and resources are also available to families of those individuals who are in a mental health crisis. The police department’s Mental Health Officer is tasked with providing training and updated information to Rockwall Police Officers on appropriate responses to persons in mental health crisis so that the proper care may be given to these individuals. For questions or more information regarding mental health issues in the City of Rockwall, please contact:

Officer Heather McAuley: (972) 772-6105 or
Email: hmcauley@rockwall.com.

UNIDOS PROGRAM

UNIDOS es un programa Hispano para que asistan los residentes del area de Metroplex en el idioma Español. Las juntas de UNIDOS serán en el idioma Español y se presentarán en Los Departamentos de la Policía de Garland, Grand Prairie, Plano, Dallas, Richardson, Rockwall y Mckinney. La intención del programa es hacer un recurso central para los residentes que hablan Español y para presentar información y dar asistencia sobre las areas de importancia para la comunidad Hispana.

UNIDOS is a Hispanic community outreach program designed to provide assistance to Spanish-speaking residents in the Metroplex. UNIDOS meetings are conducted entirely in Spanish and are currently hosted by the Garland, Grand Prairie, Plano, Dallas, Richardson, Rockwall and McKinney Police Departments. The intent of the program is to act as a resource center for Spanish-speaking residents, presenting information and providing assistance in areas of importance to the Hispanic community.