The Citizens Police Academy (CPA) is a free 6-week program that gives community members a glimpse of the realities of life as a police officer in the City of Bastrop Police Department. The Citizens Police Academy is an example of the success of the partnership between the police and the community. One of many continued efforts to develop citizen awareness and understanding of the role of law enforcement, the City of Bastrop Police Department offers the Citizens Police Academy for residents of all backgrounds and occupations. 

 

The Spring Classes are scheduled to meet Wednesdays from 6-8 p.m. beginning April 5 at the Bastrop Public Library (1100 Church Street, Bastrop, Texas 78602). 

 

The program involves both classroom and interactive instruction, including but not limited to the following: 

 

• Patrol Procedures
• Criminal Investigation
• Crime Scene Processing
• Bike Patrol
• Evidence
• Animal Control
• Mock Traffic Stops

 

Graduates are eligible for additional training and volunteer opportunities such as Citizens on Patrol and membership in the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA). For more information, please email BPDcitizensonpatrol@cityofbastrop.org. 

 

APPLY FOR THE CITIZEN'S POLICE ACADEMY BELOW!

The Junior Police Academy (JPA) is a nationwide program with a 20-year history emphasizing community responsibility among young citizens and public servants. During the summer, the Bastrop Police Department hosts free, week-long camps to strengthen the connection between law enforcement and local youth by allowing them to see what it’s like to be a police officer.

The camp, modeled after the law enforcement police academy, features physical training, including an obstacle course and marching. Students are also able to view the inside of patrol and several different first responder vehicles. The camp’s curriculum includes traffic safety, criminal investigations, alcohol and drug use, and self-defense. Campers also take field trips to locations around the area.

The 2023 Junior Police Academy will host four Monday through Thursday (8:00am-3:00pm) sessions:

Session 1:  July 3 - 6 / Ages 8-9 years  
Session 2:  July 10-13 / Ages 10-11 years
Session 3:  July 17-20 / Ages 12-14 years

The application window for the 2023 Junior Police Academy is open. 

JPA Summer Camp Requirements:

Be between the ages of 8 and 14.

 

To register for the Junior Police Academy program, please complete this form:

Junior Police Academy Application (PDF)

 

The Bastrop Police Department provides this program annually through local sponsors.  The Junior Police Academy welcomes donations and sponsors to assist with the purchase of food, equipment, and snacks for participants. 

 

If you have questions about becoming a sponsor or donating, please call 512-332-8600 or email BPDcommunity@cityofbastrop.org.

Bastrop Police Department Operation Blue Santa is a non-profit organization established by the volunteers and employees of the Bastrop Police Department. Operation Blue Santa is supported entirely by the community through donations. Through Blue Santa, we see many lives changed for the better and celebrate the magic of the holiday season. The Bastrop Police Department Operation Blue Santa accepts new unwrapped toys. 

 

Donations are welcome year-round. 

For more information and if you have any questions, call 512-332-8628 or email BPDCommunity@cityofbastrop.org.

Take Me Home allows for the safe return home of your loved ones who cannot communicate vital information to law enforcement officers or first responders. This kind of assistance may be required if the person cannot speak or correctly identify themselves or if they become disoriented or act in a manner that first responders could misinterpret.

When an individual registers in the Take Me Home system, their record includes a current digital picture, physical description, demographic information, and caregiver contacts. Only dispatchers or officers in patrol cars can access this data.

 

Suppose a patrol officer encounters a person in the Take Me Home program. In that case, the officer can query the Take Me Home system by searching for a name or physical description. Once your loved ones Take Me Home record has been located, the officer has the information to assist appropriately. The system also works in reverse; their picture and description are immediately available if a loved one is missing. There is no charge for using the program. There does need to be a commitment by those using the program to keep information in the database current. Take Me Home is voluntary. Information is confidential and only accessed by the Bastrop Communications Center and Bastrop Police Department officers.

 

The program was initially developed in 2003 by the Pensacola Police Department in Florida.

 

To participate in Take Me Home, fill out this form and send it to BPDcommunity@cityofbastrop.org. 

Through this program, a team consisting of members of the Bastrop Police Department and volunteers make daily wellness calls to seniors who are members. This service benefits homebound seniors or those without family living in the area.

There is no charge for using this program.

 

To register for the program, please complete this form:

Love One Assurance Program Member Registration Form (PDF)

 

For more information – including how to become a volunteer caller for the program, please email BPDcommunity@cityofbastrop.orgor contact us by phone at 512-332-8628.

Have you got a home security camera? Please help us fight crime in our neighborhoods by signing up for this program.

You can register a security camera with us if you have a security camera at your home. That way, we know who to contact for potential video evidence when a crime occurs. It speeds up the process of finding who might have footage, which can help solve cases and be particularly helpful when investigating vehicle burglaries in your neighborhoods.

This program does not give us access to your camera. It merely tells us that you have a camera and are willing to help when needed.

 

For more info: COMING SOON!

The Lock Box Program provides a coded key box on the exterior of members’ homes. Citizens eligible for this service include the elderly and those with handicaps or limited mobility. 

When the police department receives an emergency call from a residence with a lock box, the dispatcher relays the lockbox code and other pertinent information to an emergency responder who can gain entry to the home without causing the damage and expense associated with forced entry. 

There is no charge for using this program. We welcome donations year-round in the form of monetary contributions or lock boxes.

To register for the program, please complete this application: COMING SOON!

 

For more information, please email BPDcommunity@cityofbastrop.org or call 512-332-8628.

Let the Bastrop Police Department be your front porch. The Holiday season brings gifts. With gifts comes the possibility of package theft. Ensure secure delivery of your packages by shipping them to the Bastrop Police Department Amazon Locker. You can pick them up from the Bastrop Police Department and have one less thing to worry about.

There is no charge for this service. 

Since 2015, the Bastrop Police Department's public parking area and lobby have been designated Safety Exchange Zones. The entry is open to the public during regular business hours, Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the parking lot is available 24/7. Those who prefer a location away from their homes to exchange goods purchased online or by classifieds can arrange to meet at 104 Grady Tuck Lane. 

The effort is offered to help deter fraudulent transactions and maintain residents' privacy. Safety Exchange Zones are well-lit and under video surveillance at all times.

Custodial exchanges can also occur at these locations.

The Department is not responsible for the validity of transactions. It will not be involved in nor oversee the business conducted amongst participating parties.

 

For more information on the Safety Exchange Zone, call 512-332-8628.