The underlying concept behind Community Relation Programs is the
understanding that the Department and Community must work together
to achieve long-standing solutions to crime in our neighborhoods.
A necessary component of community policing is that citizens see
police not as strangers who come when called, but as allies who
share the community's concern for the safety and wellbeing of our
citizens.
In a cooperative effort to accomplish this goal the Department
has held eleven Citizens Police Academies since 1998 educating hundreds
of citizens since the program began. The Citizens Police
Academy (C.P.A) allows citizens in the community to observe,
learn, and train in all aspects of law enforcement in order to better
understand what police officers do. Many of these graduates continue
their involvement with the department through the C.P.A. Alumni
and in other various volunteer capacities.
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Graduation Night for the 11ith Citizens
Police Academy
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The Department is also host to Police Explorer Post # 850.
The Explorer program allows young adults from ages 14-21 to explore
the possibilities of a career in law enforcement. Officer Derek
Hodges, who has been with the Department for almost two years, is
a prodigy of the Police Explorer Program. He served four years in
the program before seeking a law enforcement career in Bastrop.
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The C.P.A. Alumni meeting in progress. President Warren
Pedersen at the helm.
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Community Speed Control Program, implemented in 2002
is designed to combat excessive vehicular speed in residential neighborhoods
through increased and directed patrols. Specific complaints about
speed will be directed to the patrol division, who will keep a file
of all neighborhood complaints. Patrol officers are instructed by
supervisors to direct their enforcement efforts to that particular
area for an undetermined period of time.
The Department continues to operate out of two Community Storefront
Offices. One at the Oak Grove Apartments located at 1910 Wilson St.
and the most recent office is located at the Transitional Housing
Apartment Complex located at 506 Linden Street. Patrol officers complete
reports, conduct interviews, visit with residents and build community
relationships while taking advantage of the apartment complex offices.
It is our belief that the mere presence of the officers has a significant
impact on neighborhood crime.
National Night Out was another huge success for the
Department and Community. With the Honorable Mayor Tom Scott and City
Manager Jeff Holberg the Department visited numerous block parties
throughout the city. This unique opportunity is designed to heighten
crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support and participation
in our local anti-crime efforts and to send a strong message to criminals
that we are united in our efforts to fighting crime in Bastrop. The
River Side Grove Subdivision had by far the largest Block Party in
town with over 200 residents attending.
In an effort to increase the visible presence of uniformed officers
on the streets the Department has continued our Park and Walk Program.
This program is designed to get officers out of their police vehicles
and visit with citizens on a one-on-one basis. This gives the citizens
the opportunity of share community concerns and needs in a personable
manner.
Over the past year the Department has made Police information more
accessible to the general public by posting local current police events
on our Web Page, designed and maintained by Laura Francis. The Web
Page provides our citizens with information regarding crime trends,
news releases, educational opportunities, hiring processes, department
roster, "Bastrop's Most Wanted", "Unsolved Cases",
employee email addresses and local events.
The overall goal of the Department is to allow community access to
as much information as
possible.
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Lee W eathertord, Cliff Wright, McGruff, Mr. Tanner
, Monty Blackman,
Officer Boydston and Chief Board putting up a Neighborhood
Watch sign
in the Riverside Grove area. This was the first organized
Crime Watch
formed in Riverside Grove.
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The newest member of our Department and one of our most powerful
weapons against crime was the addition of "Mc Gruff".
Mc Gruff is the Nationally recognized animated Crime Fighting Dog.
Mc Gruff is available to all school-aged children and other community
events. Mc Gruff was made possible due to the generous contribution
of the Lower Colorado River Association (LCRA).
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Chief Board receiving a check from Bob Long, LCRA
representative, for McGruff. Watching is Lt. Wagner.
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The Bastrop Police Department is proud of our continued relationship
and our dedication to crime prevention. If you would like more information
about our programs, please give us a call at 321-5550.
City
of Bastrop Police Dept.:
104
Grady Tuck Lane
P.O. Box 427
Bastrop, Texas 78602
Phone:
512-321-5550
Fax: 512-321-2062
