COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Citizen’s Ride-Along/Sit-Along
Community Oriented Policing (COP)
Crime Prevention Education
Neighborhood Watch
Police Activities League (PAL)
Tours
Volunteer Program

Citizen’s Ride-Along Program/
Sit-Along Program

Would you like to see what Paso Robles police officers do, up-close and be there as they work? You can sit in the front seat of a patrol car and see the activity as it happens. Any seemingly minor call can bring the unexpected. Our location and traffic activity can make our city a dynamic and active place.

Our Ride Along program allows all citizens a chance to ride with an experienced on-duty officer on their regular patrol shift. You never know what will happen—from “routine” patrol work to emergency responses or a major case investigation. Download the Ride Along Program Procedures.

Opportunities also exist with the Communications Division.  If you would like to sit alongside of a working Dispatcher and watch them multi-task with radios, telephones and cameras, then this Sit-Along Program is your ticket.

If you are interested in participating in the Ride-Along or Sit-Along Program, download and fill out a Ride Along/Sit-Along Request and a Department Waiver and Release Form and return both to the Police Department at 900 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. For more information call the Police Department at 237-6464.

Community Oriented Policing (COP)

Within the last few years, forward thinkers have caught the wave of an emerging law enforcement philosophy that recognizes the importance of creating a close partnership between citizens and their police to solve community problems that adversely affect the quality of life. While this philosophy has received a variety of titles, it is most commonly referred to and best described as Community Oriented Policing (COP)

It has been recognized that traditional law enforcement responses to crime and disorder, by themselves, are ineffective. C.O.P. was conceived as the result of a realization that many causal factors that contribute to criminal behavior include social and environmental issues that may not fit into traditionally accepted law enforcement methods. These broader problems are best identified and addressed through this community and police partnership.

It is important that C.O.P. be recognized, accepted and promoted not as a program, but a philosophy. Community Oriented Policing does not simply require a change in the way we think and interact with the public. It is not merely a community relations program. There are definite factors that separate the Community Oriented Policing philosophy from other police programs.

In order to achieve a true C.O.P. partnership with citizens, police must integrate with the community. Officers are assigned to permanent beat areas where they enjoy the freedom and autonomy to work with the citizens using innovative and creative long-term solutions to resolve community problems. Police officers and citizens are empowered to explore new, proactive initiative, to help solve problems before they occur or escalate.

It is also an objective of C.O.P. to change the attitudes of individual officers who are in traditional patrol assignments. It is focused on creating officers who are problem solvers rather than short-term crisis interveners and crime report takers.

C.O.P. is a revitalization of an age-old concept where citizens and police officers know one another and work closely together to positively impact social problems in the community and improve the quality of life. For Paso Robles, C.O.P. is an opportunity to maximize our working relationship with the community that will, in turn, result in improved police service.

Crime Prevention Education

Paso Robles Police Department Officers are available to provide classroom education and demonstrations to schools, community groups, clubs and organizations. This is an excellent opportunity for staff to share their expertise. Requests should be made at least 30 days in advance. Contact Watch Commander at (805) 237-6464.

Tours

Tours of the Public Safety Center, home of Police and Emergency Services, are by appointment only. If schedules permit, we will introduce you to our K-9 Officers, Motors and other “specialized” units. Wear comfortable shoes. Tour takes approximately 1 hour. To schedule your tour, please contact Judy Bremer, Emergency Services Administration, 227-7560.