Sonoma Ranch

HOMEOWNERS CAN FIGHT CRIME!

CELLULAR ON PATROL (COP)

THE SAN ANTONIO POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFERS A UNIQUE AND EXCITING PROGRAM CALLED CELLULAR ON PATROL (COP). THIS PROGRAM GIVES CITIZENS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE POLICE TO MAKE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE. THE COP PROGRAM WILL PREPARE CITIZENS TO BE THE "EYES AND EARS" OF THE POLICE AND PROMOTES CLOSER COOPERATION BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND CITY AGENCIES. CINGULAR WIRELESS PROVIDES FREE AIRTIME FOR CALLS TO THE EMERGENCY 911 NUMBER AS WELL AS TO THE NON-EMERGENCY POLICE DISPATCHER. THE TRAINING PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 2-4 HOUR CLASSROOM TRAINING SESSIONS AND THEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR UP TO AN 8 HOUR RIDE WITH AN ON DUTY POLICE OFFICER. THE RIDE ALONG EXPERIENCE IS OPTIONAL BUT PROVIDES AND OPPORTUNITY TO FAMILIARIZE YOU WITH THE SAPD PATROL PROCEDURES AND TO ESTABLISH POINTS OF CONTACT WITH BOTH THE SUBSTATION AND THE OFFICERS WHO PATROL OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. UPON COMPLETION OF TRAINING, COP GRADUATES ARE PRESENTED WITH A GRADUATION CERTIFICATE, A PHOTO ID, AND A COP NOTEBOOOK AND PEN. THE SAPD WILL PROVIDE A COMPLETE LIST OF DO'S AND DON'TS TO ALL CLASS MEMBERS. VOLUNTEERS WILL NEVER PATROL ALONE, WILL NOT CARRY ANY WEAPONS, AND NEVER CONFRONT OR CHASE A SUSPECTED WRONGDOER. THEY WILL HOWEVER, DECIDE AS A GROUP IF THEY WANT TO WALK OR DRIVE, PATROL IN SHORT OR LENGTHY SHIFTS, PATROL AS PAIRS OR IN LARGER GROUPS, AND PATROL DAY OR NIGHT. THE SAPD HAS PRODUCED CRIME STATISTICS FOR OUR AREA SHOWING WHICH DAYS OF THE WEEK AND WHICH TIMES OF THE DAY PRODUCE THE MOST CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL USE THIS INFORMATION TO SET UP A SCHEDULE OF PATROLS.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING MORE INVOLVED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND HELP DETER CRIME WE WOULD ENCOURAGE YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THESE CLASSES. FOR CLASS SCHEDULES YOU CAN EITHER CONTACT OUR SAPD SAFE OFFICER, OFFICER RAUL ALONZO BY EMAIL AT RALONZO@SANANTONIO.GOV OR BY PHONE AT 210-207-7179, OR THE SONOMA RANCH RECREATION CENTER OFFICE AT 210-372-0268 OR VIA EMAIL AT SRHOA@SBCGLOBAL.NET.