Georgetown Police Department » Community Programs

National Night Out

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:36:43 +0000

National Night Out is a program that the Georgetown Police Department has been actively involved in for more than 10 years. Annually, people nation-wide are encouraged to turn on their porch lights and go out and meet their neighbors. The intention is to build strong neighborhood unity to demonstrate an active stance against criminal activity.

The National Night Out date for 2009 is Tuesday, October 6. This is the first Tuesday in October. Other police departments in Texas have moved to the October date since the weather is typically cooler then. In other prts of the country, National Night Out is still held in August.

The Georgetown Police Department participates in National Night Out by helping to promote and facilitate meetings. In 2008, Georgetown Police personnel, from the Chief to patrol officers, attended more than 50 block parties throughout the community. National Night Out provides an opportunity for neightbors to connect or re-connect and meet officers from the Police Department.

For information on how to register a party for National Night Out, contact Sgt. Loyd Pearson at (512) 930-2594 lpearson@georgetowntx.org.

To download an application, click here.

Honor Guard

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:35:35 +0000

The Georgetown Police Department Honor Guard was created in 2002. The Honor Guard represents the department at funerals for fallen officers and dignitaries, memorials, and other special events.

Since its inception, the Honor Guard has participated in the first anniversary memorial service commemorating the September 11th tragedy. This event was held in Georgetown and was the first event to be staffed by the Honor Guard. The Honor Guard currently consists of seven sworn personnel.

Explorers Post 152

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:34:52 +0000

Exploring is a positive influence on the young people of Georgetown and all across the United States. Explorers and Explorer Advisors give many hours of community service and time to make Georgetown a nicer place to live.

Criminal Justice Field Day

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:34:21 +0000

The Georgetown Police Department is proud to sponsor the Criminal Justice Field Day. This one day event is designed to acquaint the High School Criminal Justice Student with the law enforcement career field. This career day event serves the Criminal Justice Educators of Texas as their annual field trip. Federal, state and local agencies team together to support the outside exhibits.

These exhibits take the form of police vehicles, tools and equipment ranging from patrol vehicles to aircraft, SWAT equipment to McGruff the Crime Dog robots. Inside exhibitors are made up of college and agency recruiters, along with criminal justice program and projects being showcased for the interest of the student observer. A sprinkle of noted speakers and interactive booths round out the field day.

Clown Program

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:33:54 +0000

Georgetown’s Safety And Fire Education (SAFE) Clown Troupe began in 2001 with members from the Police Department and Fire Department. “Ranger”, “Rookie”, and “Radar” provide life and safety skills training to elementary age children and the rest of the Georgetown citizens. The clowns teach about “Stranger Danger”, “Bicycle and Helmet Safety”, “Weapons Safety”, and “Personal Safety”, just to name a few.

Their upbeat, comical approach to a very serious matter has the children laughing, singing and thinking about their safety and the safety of their family members In addition to formal presentations, the Clowns can be seen at other community events, such as: parades, 4th of July Celebrations, school functions, and other special events.

Citizen’s Police Academy

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:33:16 +0000

The Citizen Police Academy is a ten-week course designed to educate the community about police protocol and procedure. The CPA is instructed by police officers and gives people an opportunity to have an inside view of the daily activities of a Police Department. The curriculum includes history of policing, laws and code of criminal procedure, criminal and accident investigations, lethal and less lethal weapons, crime scene investigations, officer safety, and hands on practicals.

At the Georgetown Police Department, it is our belief that crime can be reduced by teaching people how NOT to be a victim. By being aware of your surroundings and knowing what to do if a crisis arises, you insure a safe and desirable environment by limiting the opportunity criminals have. The slogan of the Citizen Police Academy is “Learning through Education”. The goal is to provide enough information to the public to dispel misconceptions and to increase the rapport between citizens and police officers. We hope the graduates of the Citizen Police Academy become more aware and better informed about how the Police Department operates, and will recommend their friends, coworkers and families to join the Georgetown Police Department in this rewarding program.

To download an application, click here.

What is the purpose of conducting a citizen police academy?

To give the public information on how the Police Department works and its policies and procedures, through a series of classes involving instruction by police officers.

Where did the concept originate?

The program originated in Orlando, Florida in 1984. Orlando was the first city in the United States to start a Citizen Police Academy.

When does the class meet?

Students meet on Tuesday nights at the Georgetown Police Department training building. The training building is located at 510 9th St. at the corner of 9th Street and Martin Luther King. There will be a total of approximately twenty (20) hours of instruction by police officers. Some classes are held at other locations such as the Williamson County Court. Any change in class location will be announced at the first class. The classes are held at no cost to the student!

Who attends the Citizen Police Academy?

Students range from 18 years of age and above. We have architects, bankers, homemakers, students, retirees, teachers, neighborhood groups, and professionals attending the classes.

How do you apply?

You must be at least 18 years old and live or work in the Georgetown area. Complete the Citizen Police Academy application and mail it to the address below. If you have any questions or need more information, call Sergeant Loyd Pearson at (512) 930-2594 or lpearson@georgetowntx.org.

Public Education

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:31:04 +0000

It is the philosophy of the Georgetown Police Department to be as open with the public as possible. In order to keep with this ideology, the Department has numerous public education programs available. One of the biggest, is the Citizen Police Academy, where people can get an inside look into the everyday operations of the Police Department. We offer numerous brochures on a myriad of topics, such as: Crime Prevention, Comprehensive Traffic Management, Homeland Security, Recruiting, Traffic Collision Reporting, and Neighborhood Watch. These are all available to the public 24 hours a day.

The Department also provides tours of the facilities to daycare groups, schools, civic organizations, and foreign exchange students. In addition, the Department employs a Public Information Officer to act as a liaison with the press and public and we routinely provide Public Service Announcements to the local media to ensure information is disseminated. Every officer is empowered to be open with the public and we feel that this relationship is the best education available.

Blue Santa

webmaster — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 21:30:16 +0000

The Blue Santa Program is a non-profit program organized by volunteers and employees of the Georgetown Police Department. This program has been an annual event for the past 20 years. The purpose of the Georgetown Police Department Blue Santa Program is to provide toys to needy residents of the City of Georgetown. The program is made possible by donations of money and toys from businesses and private citizens. Equally important is the hundreds of hours of time donated by our volunteers.

In 2007, the program provided toys to 500 families, which is approximately 1300 children. As the City of Georgetown grows, so does the need to take care of its less advantaged citizens. The Blue Santa Program exists to provide a bit of Christmas cheer to our youngest and most precious residents. In doing so, the program helps to strengthen the Police Department’s ties to the community and fosters an environment of empathy and compassion to our fellow citizens. The program also builds and reinforces partnerships among the Department, other city agencies, local businesses, and the numerous volunteers that make the program a success.