Programs for Citizens

For more information about the following programs, contact Detective B. Dietsch by calling 410-887-8599.

CITIZENS ON PATROL

Citizens on Patrol (COP) are organized groups of citizens who volunteer their time to patrol their neighborhoods as an effective crime prevention tool. To date there are approximately 100 groups patrolling neighborhoods in Baltimore County. Most of the neighborhoods post COP street signs at all entrances advertising their patrol.

OBJECTIVES

COP patrollers are observers only. They report criminal and suspicious activity or needs for emergency assistance to the police. They are not vigilantes and do not carry weapons, or confront persons engaged in criminal or suspicious activity. Having a patrol has many benefits:

  • Acts as additional "eyes and ears" for local police officers
  • Visibility in the community is the best deterrent to crime
  • Sends a strong message that residents care about their community and are united
  • Draws a community closer together
  • Opens new lines of communication
  • Program participation helps form long-term partnerships/friendships
  • Create a safer and more secure community

Any community or neighborhood can organize a patrol, which can have as few as two members. Baltimore County offers grant funding to supplement groups for startup and operation costs. The grants usually open for applications around April of each year. Other groups have funded their patrols through their associations or strictly through donations.

  • Set up a community meeting to discuss the needs of the community
  • Contact a Community Outreach Officer from your local precinct, who will attend and explain the program
  • Recruit and sign up volunteers every chance you get
  • Create a schedule that is flexible and convenient for your patrollers, don't become regimented with a specific schedule. Flex and change your hours and routine so that potential criminals won't know when you are patrolling.
  • Once you have established a group of volunteers, contact your Community Outreach Officer and coordinate a training session. Startup packets and COP manuals are available through your Community Outreach unit.

One method of patrolling utilizes three persons: two persons in the car, one of whom drives while the other observes, while the third person remains at home with a radio. This is referred to as a "base station." If the patroller spots something, they radio the "base station," who then calls 911.

  • Communication—Radios or cell phones are used to communicate with the police.
  • Mobility—Patrol groups utilize foot patrol or their personal car. Many groups also have daylight patrols, which use community members who regularly walk and bike for exercise as observers.
  • Schedule—There is no right or wrong way to patrol as criminals are opportunists and are simply waiting. Crime trends and statistical information provided by the precinct Community Outreach Team can assist groups in creating a schedule. A patrol should be tailored to fit the needs of the community and its members. Create a varied schedule so no potential criminals can pinpoint your patrol routine.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP ACADEMY

The Community Partnership Academy:

  • Affords an opportunity for community, business and religious leaders to become informed and educated about the many aspects of police work and foster relationships
  • Gives attendees exposure as to why police respond to various situations in a particular way and how they ultimately handle those situations
  • Serves as an introduction to the role of policing and its role in society
  • Creates an alliance that leaves us with voices in the community to act as ambassadors to build solid partnerships, creating a better quality of life for those we serve

The Academy is a nine-class program. Evening classes are from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and there is one Saturday class from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dates for the 2025 spring program will be April 2 through May 21. The application deadline is March 24.

OBJECTIVES

The Academy will give attendees the opportunity to learn about and participate in:

  • The benefits of public service
  • The challenges and demands associated with law enforcement
  • Selected police units
  • Practical applications that demonstrate the aspects of the police officer’s job
  • The many facets of the criminal justice system
  • How police interact with the court system
  • Safety procedures required in policing
  • Techniques used in addressing crime in our community

  • Citizen Leadership
  • Communications (911 Center)
  • Courts and State’s Attorney’s Office
  • Crime Analysis
  • Criminal Investigations
  • CSI and Forensics
  • Financial and Cyber Crimes
  • Firearms Interdiction and Violent Crimes
  • Gangs
  • Hazardous Devices
  • Homeland Security
  • Internal Affairs
  • Internet Safety and Sex Offender Registry
  • Media Relations
  • Mobile Crisis and Hostage Negotiation
  • Narcotics Investigations
  • Patrol Operations and Procedures
  • Probable Cause and Arrest Procedures
  • Residential Security
  • Support Operations
  • Traffic Laws and Enforcement
  • Use of Force and Shooting Policy

TO APPLY

Applicants will be subject to a background check. Exceptions to the application process may be approved by the program coordinator. Applicants must be either:

  • Adult residents of Baltimore County
  • BCoPD or County government employees
  • Business leaders

Complete and submit the Community Partnership Academy nomination form. A signature is not required if this form is being submitted electronically. However, please fill in the date the application is being submitted as enrollment is limited.

POLICE AND FIRE CHAPLAINS

Chaplains provide spiritual counseling and assistance to members of BCoPD and the Baltimore County Fire Department. They assist with:

  • Attending department ceremonies to perform invocations and benedictions
  • Death notifications
  • Participate in funerals of active and retired members
  • Respond to all major disasters in the County
  • Visit or contact sick or injured members

If you are interested in the chaplain program, review the minimum qualification requirements and email Sergeant Haddaway at jhaddaway@baltimorecountymd.gov to apply.

PROJECT LIFESAVER PROGRAM

BCoPD and Project Lifesaver International partnership provides timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for children and adults who wander due to Alzheimer’s, autism and other related conditions or disorders. Project Lifesaver is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that bridges the gap for at-risk populations and public safety agencies. Their program provides first responders with comprehensive training on the use of specialized electronic search-and-rescue equipment, technology and procedures, as well as teaches rescuers how to effectively communicate with people afflicted with cognitive conditions—all of which are essential to a successful rescue.

Citizens enrolled in Project Lifesaver wear a small personal transmitter around the wrist or ankle that emits an individualized tracking signal. If an enrolled client goes missing, the caregiver notifies their local Project Lifesaver agency, and trained emergency team responds to the wanderer’s area. Most clients who wander are found within the first few miles from home, and search times have been reduced from hours and days, to minutes. Recovery time for Project Lifesaver clients average 30 minutes—95 percent less time than standard operations.

Note: Client caregivers should notify their Project Lifesaver organization through a call to 911.

APPLY ONLINE