Citizens on Patrol

The Citizens on Patrol (COP) Program, which began in 2011, consists of a group of citizens, who regularly patrol the City of Bartow in pairs, in a Citizens on Patrol marked Unit.

All COP Volunteers must complete an initial 36-hour COP Training Program and security awareness training. Once the training is completed, the COP volunteer is provided with a polo shirt, ball cap, and windbreaker jacket which identifies them as a volunteer.

The COP volunteers patrol the city in pairs during daylight hours, monitoring the police radio for emergency situations. COP Volunteers patrol residential neighborhoods, shopping centers, and downtown. This provides the city with a larger presence of law enforcement while providing community service. The volunteers are trained to recognize and then report suspicious activity.

The COP volunteers routinely drive the COP vehicle in parades, citywide events, and other activities.

If you are interested in becoming a COP Volunteer, please contact the Community Services Coordinator at 863-534-5034 for more information.