~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Promotions

The Dickinson Police Department  is pleased to announce that the following law enforcement employees have been promoted:

William (Frank) Price – promoted to Detective (10 years of service). Frank will be responsible for investigating crimes against property and supporting covert operations.

Michael (Mike) Henson – promoted to Detective (6 years of service). Mike will be responsible for investigating vice/narcotics crimes and conducting covert investigations. Due to the nature of his work Detective Henson's photograph was not included on this page.

Vernita Rawls – promoted to Communications Supervisor (7 years of service). Vernita will be responsible to supervise the day-to-day operations in the Communications Center.

All of these individuals have worked very hard in their current positions and are deserving of their new designations. We extend our congratulations to each of them for this accomplishment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Dickinson Citizen’s Police Academy and Dickinson Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association - Major Players in a Small Community - Class XX

What was started in February, 1999, has held twenty classes in eleven years and graduated over 225 citizens? The answer is the Dickinson Citizen’s Police Academy! If you think that’s impressive, just consider the accomplishments of the Dickinson Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association (DCPAAA), an organization that has grown to 120 active members in this same period of time. The DCPAAA supports the Dickinson Police Department in obtaining ancillary equipment and other assistance through appropriate fund raising projects within the community and works to enhance relations between the DPD and the citizens of Dickinson.

The key word in the mission statement of the DCPAAA is “works.” This is a tireless organization. Ongoing activities include: Caring Hands – supporting DPD officers and families in times of crisis, the annual Community Thanksgiving Feast, working with the Festival of Lights, Keep Dickinson Beautiful,  and the Blue Santa program – toys and clothing to those in need. They are also involved in manning the DPD Warrant Notification Program, assisting with traffic control at parades and other community functions, and providing emergency assistance as needed i.e. Hurricane Ike.

Providing ancillary equipment to DPD has come in the form of providing a K-9 for the department, bullet proof vests for each officer, and most recently, a First Aid Kit for each unit. Money for these projects is raised through the Annual Garage Sale, Bucket Brigades, and personal contributions from caring and supportive citizens.  One recent graduate of the DCPA provided the funds to purchase a TASER for each patrol officer. 

Perhaps the most visible and active arm of the DCPAAA can be found in the Citizen’s On Patrol (COP’s) program. Designed to enhance individual and collective safety, to promote the general safety and welfare of all people in the City of Dickinson, and to assist the DPD in deterring crime, this group provides high visibility patrols within the city observing and reporting suspicious behavior. Citizens who participate in this program, in addition to having a thorough background check, must complete the Dickinson Citizen’s Police Academy and undergo additional training. Underlying all activities is the one tenet: “Observe suspicious behavior, Report the behavior, and Remove yourself from any danger.” Scheduled patrols throughout the month in marked units provide the citizens with the opportunity to learn more about the community and to interact in a positive manner. In 2009, this program contributed over 2000 volunteer hours. They are not policemen. They are not trained as policemen. They are citizens dedicated and trained to make a difference.

Through participation in the Texas Citizen Police Alumni Association, on a state level the DCPAAA has won Alumni Member of the Year(99), Membership of the Year(02), Alumni of the Year(02 and 09), and Officer of the Year(09). In the brief span of time that they have been in existence the DCPA / DCPAAA has managed to organize itself and develop in a manner that it serves as a model for other programs in the state. In 2004, after only five years, the DCPAAA hosted a State Conference in Galveston at the Moody Gardens for some 400 delegates of other Alumni organizations. The DCPAAA will again assist Region I in hosting the CPA State Convention in 2011 in Galveston at Moody Gardens.

As Class XX continues its’ march to completing the program and graduation, it is adding to the full and rich tradition of past academies. This program is designed to continue an interactive discourse with community and Police Department and to offer an opportunity to become an active member of an organization whose motto may say that we, as citizens, also strive to “protect and serve!” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~