Applicable To: All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief Richard J. Pennington

Signature:  Signed by RJP

Date Signed:  2/2/09

1.          PURPOSE  PAGEREF _Toc221432048 \h 1

2.          POLICY   PAGEREF _Toc221432049 \h 1

3.          RESPONSIBILITIES  PAGEREF _Toc221432050 \h 1

4.          ACTION  PAGEREF _Toc221432051 \h 2

4.1           Qualifications  PAGEREF _Toc221432052 \h 2

4.2           Training  PAGEREF _Toc221432053 \h 2

4.3           Management PAGEREF _Toc221432054 \h 2

4.3           Management PAGEREF _Toc221432054 \h 2

4.4           Equipment and Uniforms  PAGEREF _Toc221432055 \h 3

4.5           Liability  PAGEREF _Toc221432056 \h 3

5.          DEFINITIONS  PAGEREF _Toc221432057 \h 3

6.          CANCELLATIONS  PAGEREF _Toc221432058 \h 4

7.          REFERENCES  PAGEREF _Toc221432059 \h 4

1.               PURPOSE

The intent of this directive is to describe the role, qualifications and responsibilities of the Atlanta   Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. The mission of the Alumni Association is to provide an avenue for citizen volunteers to provide support to the Atlanta Police Department. For the purpose of this directive the Alumni Association shall be referred to as CPA volunteers.

2.               POLICY

The Atlanta Police Department will utilize volunteers from the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association to increase public support of the Department. These volunteers are graduates of the Atlanta Citizens Police Academy who will assist the Department with select functions.

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1              The creation and dissolution of the CPA Alumni Association will be at the discretion of the Chief of Police.  In addition, all members of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association serve at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

3.2              The Training Academy Director will determine what functions are appropriate for the use of Citizens Police Academy volunteers. The Training Section will maintain all records associated with the CPA volunteers. The Training Academy Director will implement this policy and will designate a sworn employee as the Agency Liaison to facilitate communications between the organization and the Department.

3.3              The Agency Liaison will screen and process all Departmental requests for CPA volunteers. The Agency Liaison will also serve on the CPA Executive Board and monitor the activities of the volunteers.

4.               ACTION

4.1              Qualifications

4.1.1           To join the Atlanta Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, an individual must be a graduate of one of the Atlanta Citizens Police Academy training programs, have no felony convictions, and have no misdemeanor convictions within one year of applying for admittance into the Atlanta Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association.

4.2              Training

4.2.1           The Training Section will approve training programs for the Citizens Police Academy in accordance with National Citizens Police Academy guidelines.

4.2.2           The Training Academy Director will certify the successful completion of training and submit recommendations for graduation to the Chief of Police.

4.2.3           Upon completion of the approved training course, graduates are eligible to apply for alumni status with the CPA Alumni Association.  Completion of the training program does not grant eligibility to serve as a volunteer.

4.3              Management

4.3.1           The Training Academy Director will be responsible for supervision of the CPA Alumni program and for reporting the program’s progress to the Chief of Police.

4.3.2           The Agency Liaison will serve on the Executive Board of the CPA Alumni Association and will be responsible for attending meetings and reporting all activities of the organization to the Training Academy Director.

4.3.3           The Agency Liaison will be responsible for maintaining a roster of active CPA volunteers.   

4.3.4           Requests for the usage of CPA volunteers will be coordinated through the designated Agency Liaison. Requests for volunteers will be submitted in the form of intradepartmental memo. 

4.3.5           CPA volunteers will only serve in a non-enforcement capacity. The primary purpose of the Association is to promote community involvement through supporting the Atlanta Police Department and recruiting for future CPA classes. Duties / activities where CPA volunteers can be utilized include, but are not limited to:

1.    Future Citizens Academies

a.    CPA Command Staff “Meet & Greet” function

b.    CPA graduation activities

c.    CPA annual round-up

2.    National Night Out activities

3.    Atlanta Police Retired Round-up

4.    Atlanta Police Foundation functions  

a.    “Drive & Shoot” function

b.    “Crime is Toast” function     

5.    Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch         

6.    Citizen Advisory Councils at the zone level

7.    “Cops & Rodders” Annual Car Show      

4.4              Equipment and Uniforms

4.4.1           CPA volunteers will be issued a Departmental identification card so that they may be recognized as a Department-recognized volunteer.

4.4.2           Members are allowed to wear the navy polo style shirt with the APD logo that has “Citizens Police Academy” beneath the seal, on the front left side. The CPA members will also have his or her first initial and last name on the front right side of the navy polo style shirt .The CPA member may also wear the alumni shirt which identifies the wearer as CPA alumni. Special requests for attire will be based upon the type of function the volunteer will support (cookouts / formal balls).The Academy Director must authorize all uniform requests and changes.

4.4.3           No CPA alumni will wear uniforms or rank representing that of a sworn police officer.

4.5              Liability

4.5.1           Members of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association are required to have, on file at the Training Academy, a Liability Release Form and a Criminal History Release Form.                  

4.5.2           Members of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association are not sworn police officers and

                  at no time will members represent themselves as such.

4.5.3           No CPA alumni will be granted permission to carry firearms or other weapons while serving in a volunteer capacity.

4.5.4           No CPA alumni are entitled to any indemnification from the state or municipality for any injury or property damage sustained by such person as a result of their participation with the volunteer workforce.

4.5.5           No CPA alumni will receive compensation from the Atlanta Police Department for their voluntary services rendered.

4.5.6           Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association members must notify the Agency Liaison of any criminal incident that involves themselves, within 72 hours of the incident occurrence.

5.               DEFINITIONS

5.1              CPA: Atlanta Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association

5.2              CPA Executive Board: Governing body for the CPA Alumni Association whose primary function will be to guide and manage the alumni activities and/or affairs, and to support the training program as set forth by the Atlanta Police Academy

5.3              Volunteer: Someone who works without being paid or, who freely offers to serve.

6.               CANCELLATIONS

                  N/A

7.               REFERENCES

                  Atlanta Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association Bylaws

                  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, (CALEA) 5th ed. Standards 16.4.1; 16.4.2; 16.4.3

                  National Citizens Police Academy Association Bylaws