Applications for spring Citizen Police Academy due March 4

The Citizen Police Academy is an 11-week course taught by police officers and firefighters to educate citizens about the Georgetown Police and fire departments’ protocols and procedures. Classes in the spring 2019 academy include code of criminal procedure, criminal and accident investigations, lethal and less-than-lethal weapons, crime scene investigations, victim services, response to resistance, officer safety, and Fire response. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. on March 4.

Weekly classes are on Thursday evenings starting on March 21 through May 30. Class sessions are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The first class will be held in the training room of the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road.

There is no charge to attend the academy, but seating is limited and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications are available at the Georgetown Police Department reception desk at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center or by emailing a request to randy.mcdonald@georgetown.org. All applicants will be notified of acceptance via email.

Blue Santa collects toys for children

Blue Santa’s elves are busy working to provide toys to children in need in Georgetown. Like they do every year, Blue Santa and his elves need your help.

A program of the Georgetown Police Department, Blue Santa provides toys to more than 1,500 children in Georgetown during its annual toy drive and distribution.

You can help Blue Santa by donating a new, unwrapped toy at the Christmas Stroll Parade on Saturday, Dec. 1. The parade starts at 10 a.m. New, unwrapped toys will be collected by Blue Santa Elves along the parade route, which is on Austin Avenue from Ninth to Sixth streets on the downtown Square.

In addition, toys may be dropped off in donation barrels in businesses and offices in Georgetown.

Monetary donations to purchase toys also are accepted. Checks to “CPAAA Blue Santa” should be sent to the Georgetown Police Department, c/o CPAAA Programs, 3500 D.B. Wood Road, Georgetown, TX, 78628. Donate $10 or more to Georgetown Blue Santa and you’ll receive a collectible Blue Santa Elf lapel pin.

Applications for assistance from Blue Santa must be turned in by Nov. 30. Applications are available online as well as at The Caring Place at 2000 Railroad St. and the Georgetown Police Department at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center at 3500 D.B. Wood Road. Children who qualify for Blue Santa are age 18 or younger, live in the Georgetown city limits, and qualify for the free or reduced lunch program at school or meet federal poverty guidelines.

For information about donation events and donations to Blue Santa, go to BlueSanta.Georgetown.org.

National Night Out and On the Table event on Oct. 2

National Night Out, an annual event to support safe neighborhoods, is on Tuesday, Oct. 2, in Georgetown. Block parties are being organized from 6 to 9 p.m. The City’s planning department is also partnering with the police department for its On the Table Georgetown event on Oct. 2 as part of the public input process for the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update.

National Night Out

Online registration for National Night Out block parties in Georgetown ends Friday, Sept. 21. Registering your block party provides the information to the Georgetown Police Department so that an officer or other City employees or officials can visit your block party.

Last year there were more than 100 registered National Night Out events in Georgetown. Georgetown Police Department officers as well as other local law enforcement officers, elected officials, Georgetown firefighters and EMS technicians, and other City employees attended block parties in Georgetown.

The Georgetown Police Department is hosting a reception for hosts of NNO block parties at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B Wood Road.

To register your National Night Out block party in Georgetown, go to pd.georgetown.org/national-night-out.

On the Table Georgetown

As part of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan update, the City and its community partners are asking residents to put all their ideas on the table. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your voice in the 2030 Plan, which will be a roadmap to guide the City’s growth and future development decisions.

In the past, the City has held public meetings to gather community input for planning efforts. For the first time the City is asking the public to bring the discussion to their own tables, collect input from their peers and report it back. On the Table Georgetown is a citywide engagement effort that will allow residents across the City of Georgetown to participate in a brief small group discussion all on the same day, wherever they are at.

On Tuesday, Oct. 2, everyone in Georgetown is invited to host a mealtime conversation—breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between—with up to 12 of their friends and neighbors. Conversations can be hosted anywhere: homes, restaurants, coffee shops, schools, libraries, offices, parks, or places of worship. Residents participating in National Night Out are also encouraged to consider hosting a small group discussion about their ideas for Georgetown in the next 10 years before, after or during their gathering.

Several community organizations will be hosting venues for multiple discussion groups open to the public. Times and locations can be found at 2030.georgetown.org/how-do-i-get-involved/ott.

The City will offer a training session for table hosts on Sept. 26 in conjunction with the National Night Out reception.

For more information and to sign up to host or attend an On the Table Georgetown discussion, click on the On the Table icon at 2030.georgetown.org.

Citizen Police Academy fall session

The Citizen Police Academy is a 12-week course taught by police officers to educate citizens about all aspects of the Georgetown Police Department. Classes in the fall 2018 academy include code of criminal procedure, accident investigations, use of force, crime scene investigations, hostage negotiations, special weapons and tactics, and victim services. The deadline to apply is Aug. 15.

Weekly classes are on Thursday evenings Aug. 23 through Nov. 8. Class sessions are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The first class will be held in the training room of the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road.

There is no charge to attend the academy, but seating is limited and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applications are available at the Georgetown Police Department reception desk at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center or by emailing a request to randy.mcdonald@georgetown.org. All applicants will be notified of acceptance via email.

National Night Out

Click here to register

 

National Night Out is an annual event to support safe neighborhoods.  During your event are numerous opportunities to establish, build and strengthen partnerships with not only your neighbors, but public safety personnel and other City employees or officials.

Online registration for National Night Out block parties opens each year near the end of July.  National Night Out takes place in TEXAS on the 1st Tuesday in October, from 6p to 8p.  Registering your block party provides the information to the Georgetown Police Department so that an officer or other City employees or officials can visit your block party.

Last year there were SO excited to be back in person to celebrate with our CommUNITY!  In 2021, there were more than 60 registered National Night Out events around our amazing city.  Georgetown Police Department officers as well as other local law enforcement officers, elected officials, Georgetown firefighters and EMS technicians, and other City employees attended block parties and had an AMAZING time.

There will be a “Come and Go” Host reception from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. near the end of September at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center (3500 DB Wood Rd) for hosts to get information and party ideas!  Start planning your neighborhood block party and let’s celebrate our AMAZING CommUNITY together!

 

 

 

Holiday Closings for City Facilities

City of Georgetown offices and facilities will be closed Friday, Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday. City offices also will be closed on Monday, Jan. 2 in observance of the New Year’s holiday. This includes the following:

  • Animal Shelter, 110 W.L. Walden Drive
  • City Hall, 113 E. Eighth Street
  • Economic Development, 809 Martin Luther King, Jr. Street
  • Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Avenue
  • Municipal Court, 101 E. Seventh Street
  • Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 N. College Street
  • Planning Department, 406 W. Eighth Street
  • Public Library, 402 W. Eighth Street
  • Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 DB Wood Road

City of Georgetown facilities with weekend or evening hours will observe these closures:

  • Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive: open Dec. 23, open Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25, closed Jan. 1, open Jan. 2
  • Collection Station, 250 W.L. Walden Drive: open Dec. 23, closed Dec. 24 – 25, open Dec. 26, open Dec. 31 (closing at 3 p.m.), closed Jan. 1, open Jan. 2
  • Public Library, 402 W. Eighth Street: closing weekdays at 6 p.m. and closing at 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays starting Dec. 19, closed Dec. 23 – 26 and Jan. 1 – 2, regular hours resume Jan. 3
  • Recreation Center, 1003 N. Austin Avenue: open Dec. 23 (closing at 6 p.m.), closed Dec. 24 – 26, open Dec. 31 (closing at 6 p.m.), closed Jan. 1, open Jan. 2 (opening at 8 a.m.)
  • Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive: open Dec. 23 (closing at 6 p.m.), closed Dec. 24 – 26, open Dec. 31 (closing at 6 p.m.), closed Jan. 1, open. Jan. 2 (opening at 8:30 a.m.)
  • Visitors Center, 103 W. Seventh Street: open Dec. 23, open Dec. 24 (closing at 12 p.m.), closed Dec. 25, open Dec. 26, open Dec. 31 (closing at 12 p.m.), closed Jan. 1 – 2

Solid Waste and Recycling Collection

There is regular solid waste and recycling collection for Texas Disposal Systems customers on all days Monday through Saturday. This includes regular collection on Dec. 23, Dec. 24, Dec. 26, Dec. 31, and Jan. 2.

For questions about solid waste and recycling collection, call TDS at (512) 930-1715.

Blue Santa Collects Toys for Kids

Blue Santa’s elves are busy working to provide toys to children in need in Georgetown. Like they do every year, Blue Santa and his elves need your help.

A program of the Georgetown Police Department, Blue Santa provides toys to more than 1,500 children in Georgetown during its annual toy drive and distribution.

You can help Blue Santa by donating a toy at the Christmas Stroll Parade on Saturday, December 3. The parade starts at 10 a.m. New, unwrapped toys will be collected by Blue Santa Elves along the parade route, which is on Austin Avenue from Ninth to Sixth streets on the downtown Square.

New, unwrapped toys also may be dropped off in donation barrels in businesses and offices in Georgetown.

Monetary donations to purchase toys also are accepted. Checks to “CPAAA Blue Santa” should be sent to the Georgetown Police Department, c/o CPAAA Programs, 3500 DB Wood Road, Georgetown, TX, 78628.

Donate $15 or more to Georgetown Blue Santa and you’ll receive a collectible Blue Santa Elf lapel pin (see image lower right).

December 1 is the application deadline for assistance from Blue Santa. Applications are available at The Caring Place at 2000 Railroad Street and the Georgetown Police Department at the Public Safety Operations and Training Center at 3500 DB Wood Road.

Children who qualify for Blue Santa are age 18 or younger, live in Georgetown city limits, and qualify for free or reduced lunch program at school or meet federal poverty guidelines.

For information about donation events and donations to Blue Santa, go to BlueSanta.Georgetown.org.

Memorial Stair Climb on Sept. 11 in Georgetown

Georgetown firefighters and police officers will participate in a memorial stair climb at the Georgetown ISD athletic stadium on Sunday, September 11. The climb is done each year as a tribute to first responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Participants will climb the equivalent of 110 stories—the height of the World Trade Center towers in New York City.

The event begins at 8 a.m. with an invocation by Fire Lieutenant Brad Cox followed by comments from Georgetown Fire Chief John Sullivan and Georgetown Police Chief Wayne Nero. One firefighter and one police officer will post the colors before the climb begins. The Georgetown Fire Department Pipe Band will be at the event and will play prior to the climb.

The firefighters on the climb will be wearing firefighting gear including boots, helmets, protective pants and jackets, and air packs. Police officers will carry extra tactical gear on the climb. Participants will pause for a moment of silence at the times that each of the World Trade Center towers collapsed.

The gate to the stadium opens at 7:30 a.m. for the event. Members of the public and the news media are welcome to attend the event and observe.

The Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex is located behind Georgetown High School at 2211 N. Austin Avenue in Georgetown.

(Photo credit: Amanda Chron, Georgetown Police Department)

Watch School Zones as Classes Start on Aug. 23

The first day of classes for schools in the Georgetown school district is Tuesday, August 23. The Georgetown Police Department reminds drivers to slow down in school zones. As students go back to school, police will be monitoring school zones throughout the city.

Look for the school zones at most of these Georgetown ISD schools:

  • Carver Elementary, 4901 Scenic Lake Drive
  • Cooper Elementary, 1921 NE Inner Loop
  • Ford Elementary, 210 Woodlake Drive
  • Frost Elementary, 711 Lakeway Drive
  • McCoy Elementary, 401 Bellaire Drive
  • Mitchell Elementary, 1601 Rockride Lane
  • Pickett Elementary, 1100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard
  • Purl Elementary, 1700 Laurel Street
  • Village Elementary, 400 Village Commons
  • Williams Elementary, 507 E. University Avenue
  • Benold Middle School, 3407 Northwest Boulevard
  • Forbes Middle School, 1911 NE Inner Loop
  • Tippit Middle School, 1601 Leander Road
  • East View High School, 4490 E. University Avenue
  • Georgetown High School, 2211 N. Austin Avenue
  • Georgetown Alternative Program, 502 Patriot Way
  • Richarte High School, 2295 N. Austin Avenue
  • Williamson County Academy/Lott Juvenile Detention Center, 200 Wilco Way

School zone speed limits are in effect during the posted hours or when yellow lights are flashing. The fine for speeding in a school zone is $10 per mile over the limit, plus state court costs. This would mean a $229 fine for driving 30 mph in a 20 mph zone, for example.

State law prohibits the use of a wireless communication device in a school zone during the posted hours or when yellow lights are flashing.

Citizen Police Academy Fall Session

The Citizen Police Academy is a 10-week course to educate citizens about all aspects of the Georgetown Police Department. The fall 2016 academy is instructed by police officers, fire department personnel, and officers of the district and county court system. The deadline to apply is August 22.

Session topics include the history of policing, laws and code of criminal procedure, criminal and accident investigations, lethal and less-lethal weapons, crime scene investigations, officer safety, the court system, fire department response, and other community support services.

Weekly classes begin on Thursday, August 25 and finish with a graduation ceremony on Thursday, October 27.  Each class starts promptly at 6 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. The first class will be held in the training room of the Public Safety Operations and Training Center, 3500 D.B. Wood Road.

There is no charge to attend the academy, but seating is limited and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are available at the Georgetown Police Department reception desk or by emailing a request to Linda.Lipscomb@georgetown.org.

A background check will be conducted on all applicants. No one under the age of 18 is eligible to apply. Persons with a prior felony conviction will not be accepted.  All applicants will be notified of acceptance. For additional information or questions, please call (512) 930-2747.