A Safer Longview Begins With You

“YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

Our 24/7 Information Phone Number is:

903-237-8883

Email Us!

Read How You Can Join Citizens on Patrol

View C.O.P Statistics -- 1995 to 2004

We can also be contacted by calling

The Longview Police Department,

Community Resource Officer Division – Citizens Programs

302 E. Cotton Street, Longview, Texas 75606

903- 237-1199

Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) acts as extra eyes and ears for the Longview Police Department in the cities neighborhoods. Private citizens volunteer their time and resources to actively patrol their neighborhoods to observe and report suspicious and/or criminal activities to the appropriate authorities.

C.O.P's primary purpose is to help reduce crime and/or illegal drugs within the city through cooperation with the police department.

Within the C.O.P. program, citizens are needed to patrol their neighborhoods for 8 to 16 hours per month.

If you can spare at least 8 hours per month for the betterment of your community, C.O.P. needs you. None of our volunteers receive pay or reimbursements for any of our services.

Patrols are conducted in the Volunteer's personal vehicles with the C.O.P. logo on magnetic signs for maximum visible identification. Also, shirts and jackets imprinted with the logo are supplied to each volunteer. Cell-Phones as well as Programed 800 mhz Two-way Radios are provided for patrollers ever constant contact with the Longview Police Dept. There must be two (2) or more patrollers in each patrol vehicle. Good friends, buddies or husbands and wives make an optimum patrol situation. COP is a non-profit organization incorporated by the state of Texas. We are 501 ( C ) (3) designated by the IRS to receive grants and donations.

VOLUNTEERS MUST BE AGE 21 OR OLDER.

C.O.P. VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT POLICE OFFICERS and ARE TRAINED TO

OBSERVE and REPORT ONLY.

CITIZENS ON PATROL OBJECTIVES :

1. To assist the Longview Police Department through observing and reporting

2. To help reduce crime in neighborhoods

3. To increase cooperation between citizens and police

4. To educate citizens on crime prevention

5. To increase police authorized presence in neighborhoods

6. To unite residents for a dedicated reason

7. To increase crime awareness among the citizens in our own neighborhoods

8. To improve the quality of life in all areas of Longview

9. To provide a safe, secure environment for all neighborhood residents

10. To make a difference in our city

Increased citizen involvement can and will deter crime in your neighborhood. These patrols are a visible presence of police authority that helps to prohibit and deter criminal activities. C.O.P. also develops a closer relationship between the police and the community. This enhances and improves the overall quality of life within the city of Longview, Texas.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

C.O.P. participants will attend one eight-hour training session. During this time they will learn the observation techniques and police procedures necessary for safety and the smooth operation of patrolling. Each C.O.P. volunteer is required to participate in at least one ride-along with a uniformed patrol officer prior to starting patrols. This allows the citizens to experience the complexities of law enforcement, possibly from a different perspective.

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

If you are thinking about joining Citizens On Patrol here is some information.

1. Simply call the Information phone number below or

2. Call the Community Resource Officer in your area. (See item 7 below)

3. Attend training class for C.O.P. (8 hours classroom plus hands on instructions).

4. Complete one ride-along with a Longview Police Officer.

5. Remember you must be 21 or older.

6. For information & application: Call: ....903-237-8883

7. Or Contact Any Community Resource Officer at:

District A--------- Community Resource Office: 903-295-8634

District B----------Community Resource Office: 903-758-3816

District C----------Community Resource Office: 903-236-4363

Return to top

actively patrolling neighborhoods and being visible

observing and recording activities and

reporting suspicious crime and/or illegal drug activity to the police.

The C.O.P. program increases the lines of communication between

Longview citizens and the Longview Police Officers by:

increasing direct interaction among citizens and officers;

informing and educating private citizens in the daily activities of the police department;

sharing with the concerned citizens of Longview that they do have a voice and it's time to be heard;

empowering, uniting and consolidating as many citizens as possible to support the police department.

Our 24/7 Information Phone Number is:

903-237-8883

We can also be contacted by calling

The Longview Police Department,

Community Resource Officers Division – Citizens Programs

302 E. Cotton Street, Longview, Texas 75606

903- 237-1199

A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND KEY PERSONNEL:

Key Personnel: 

Our Board of Directors:

Board Members:

Dwain Hardin; Wesley Minor; Amos Fowler;  Allan Askew;  Raymond Jewell; Mack McFarland;  Bill Rapp;  Dorothy Rapp.

The monthly Board of Directors Meetings are held every first Monday of the month and is tape-recorded.

Our Advisory Board of Directors are The Community Resource  Officers of the

Longview Police Department: 

        From District “A” - Officer Mike Reinhart;

        From District “B” - Officer Aaron Clinton;

        From District “C” -  Officer John Rolls     

Our Liaison Officer is : Position Vacant

Citizens On Patrol's Goal or Statement of Purpose is Simple and to the Point.

Our goal to reduce crime in Longview has been reached year after year and is confirmed with statistics from our police department. This is, of course, a goal that has been met; however, as this goal is met, another one is created. Hence, the perpetual matriculation of crime's newcomers leaves us with an endless goal / project to eliminate crime in Longview, Texas. The extent of our problems can be read in any police report in any newspaper. Our problems are the problems all society faces. To measure the performance of a project that has a non-existent end is impossible. One necessary and rudimentary evil of any volunteer organization is the financing of its activities. These surface when we need trained volunteers, equipment and supplies to maintain a resemblance of integrity with our operation. We have 112 volunteers donating their time and efforts to the city on a weekly basis. We are always in need of financial assistance as this is one of our consistent shortcomings. We are striving to have enough volunteers in C.O.P. to have a patrol active in each district at least 16 hours a day. This can be accomplished with less than 400 volunteers.

Thanks,

Return to top

CITIZENS ON PATROL-CITY WIDE

DATA FROM 05/01/95 THRU 12/31/04

Just STOP and THINK for a minute: If there are 500 miles of streets and roads within Longview?s corporate city limits. A little crazy quick math tells you: If C.O.P. Patrollers have driven 298,915 miles since we started in May 1995 through December 2003 we have traveled every street in Longview, Texas over 598 times.

Another Thought: If every C.O.P. vehicle got 20 MPG, which in town they usually do not, and the price of gas is $1.40 a gallon, at that rate C.O.P. Volunteers have donated to the city of Longview some $21,000 in free gas expense and wages at say $7.50 P/Hr. of $334,000. All this while helping to lower the crime rate. This is a donation of about $355,000 to our city from these concerned citizens.

We, in Longview, have many things of which to be proud. And these Volunteers are one of them. They are giving back to the city in the best way they know how for all that Longview has enjoyed over the past years.

So, You See, You Too Can Make A Difference.

Return to top

We have several patrollers with over 1000 hours of volunteer patrol time

donated to the city of Longview. They are:

Bill Buvens – Dist."C" Amos Fowler – Dist."C" Vince Hudson- Dist."C"
Charlie Alread – Dist. “B” Bob Buvens – Dist. “C” Janet Deason – Dist.“B”
Jeff Deason – Dist. “B” Donald Sifrit – Dist. “B” Joe Ann Sifrit –Dist. -- “B"
Scott Case – Dist. “A” Ed Bower - Dist."A"

“These guys are really making a difference”

Longview Citizens On Patrol, Inc. Invites Your Participation.

Don't forget now. If you or anyone you know feel the need to give back to your city in a way that can be measured in self-gratification and not just dollars and cents then we have a terrific alternative for you in our 100% Volunteer Program with Citizens On Patrol. All anyone needs to do is:

A. Be 21 or older

B. Have 8 to 16 hours per month free for volunteering

C. Have no felony convictions

D. Complete our short application

E. Pass the LPD background investigation

F. Attend our 6 to 8 hour training class

G. Complete a 4 hour ride-a-long with LPD

H. Be willing to attend monthly meeting

I. Enjoy being with folks with similar goals

J. CALL 903-237-8883 for contact

We will be waiting for your call. Come on, get off that couch.

You can make a difference !!

Our Information phone number is 903-237-8883.

We wish you the very best in every way, every day.

Last Updated On............10/30/2006

THE END, BUT YET IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING.

SEE YA' SOON.

Free web hosting for non-profit Community Service Organizations
provided by 1-2-Wonder Web Services