You may have seen the patrol car driving through Leander neighborhoods. It looks like a police cruiser, but instead it’s filled with volunteers.
They’re part of Leander's Citizens on Patrol, or COPS program.
"If there's something that doesn't look right,” said P.T. Turner as he kept watch in a neighborhood.
"Erratic driving, perhaps slowed responses, maybe a drunk driver,” said Christy Turner, who volunteers with him. “We just admire law enforcement.”
Christy and P.T. Turner have been volunteers for the past three years.
"It’s a way that we can give back to the community,” said P.T. Turner.
These volunteers help direct traffic, look for parking violations and deter crime. Then they're able to radio in any problems.
"It helps us because we actually do have someone rolling around in a look-alike unit and they serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for the police department,” said Senior Officer Jerod Kostecka. "Just serve as a deterrent for any type of criminal activity."
He said they started the program four years ago.
"It’s a way the community can interact with the police department, share ideas,” said Kostecka.
Now he said it even helps relieve pressure on department resources.
They said the officers thank them for their time.
"Every time we go out, every time we come for a patrol, they thank us for coming, every time we leave they thank us for being there," said P.T. Turner.
It’s a feeling the Turner’s appreciate.
"You have a feeling of accomplishment that you're actually helping them do their job,” said P.T. Turner.
"It's great, I like knowing that we can help the officers. We can take away some of the non-urgent things that officers, sworn officers don't need to do. We can sit and wait on a tow truck, or we can move debris out of the road, things that doesn't need ot take up their time, and they appreciate that. It lets them focus on safety matters, and hazardous things, and criminal matters, where their time should really be spent,” said Christy Turner.
The volunteers typically don’t have any law enforcement background, and can’t pull anyone over, or arrest them, or write them a ticket.
"I don't know anything about police work, so I can keep my grey matter moving, by learning stuff, I have no idea what it is," said P.T. Turner.
Before putting on the uniform, the volunteers go through background checks, basic and advanced citizen police academies, and ride along with a sworn officer.
"It’s been over 200 hours of training,” said P.T. Turner.
Right now, Leander has six volunteers, who work between four- and 12-hour shifts.
The Turners said they see all sorts of reactions from people in the community.
“Some people really like that we're out there in the neighborhoods, or whatever, and some other people look at us like, 'hmm what are you doing,'" said P.T. Turner.
But their reactions are clear, they're happy to help.
"It’s great, very rewarding,” said Christy Turner.
Now, Kostecka hopes to grow the program, and create more community outreach opportunities.
"We’re able to engage the community at a different level, we're a lot more engaged in our community,” said Kostecka.
There are several other departments in our area that offer this type of program.
In Round Rock, they have 25 volunteers, and two Citizens on Patrol vehicles. There, the participants check parks, hotels, and other areas of the community for crime. They go through training on first aid, traffic control, verbal de-escalation, and self-defense. The program was just recognized by the Texas Citizens on Patrol Association among large agencies (population over 100,000).
In Georgetown, they have 15 members, and clocked more than 3,000 volunteer hours last year. They deploy digital speed signs, look for code violations, and patrol school zones. They just expanded their coverage areas beyond homes and neighborhoods to shopping centers and apartment complexes.
And in Buda, Police Chief Bo Kidd just presented the idea to City Council on Feb. 6. He proposed a 12-week Citizens Police Academy, and an opportunity to volunteer for the city. The council will discuss the item at a later date.