YOUTH INVESTMENTS
Youth Services invests in Arlington ’ s youngest residents and works to develop positive , lasting relationships with them that they can carry into adulthood . The division is made up of multiple units including School Resource Officers ( SRO ), the Multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Team ( MTAT ), and the Hometown Recruiting Program . They also oversee many of the department ’ s youth programs .
The primary mission of the SRO Unit is to provide students and staff of the Arlington ISD schools they ’ re in with a safe learning environment . SROs also spend their time engaging regularly with students , encouraging them academically and in their activities , and participating in youth programs that nurture trust . Some of those programs include :
• Police Activities League ( PAL ): Each summer , SROs organize and lead week-long day camps for students entering 8th or 9th grade . During these PAL camps , participants learn more about the role of police in the community , play games and do activities with SROs , and go on field trips . In 2023 , the PAL program was expanded to offer year-round activities for camp participants .
• BGC & APD : APD has found a strong community partner in the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County , which has worked with the SROs to develop an afterschool program called BGC & APD . During the program , APD officers from various units including Motorcycles , Mounted , and UAS visit BGC campuses to interact with the kids , teach them about what police do , and perform demonstrations .
• Police Cadets : Formerly known as the Police Explorers , the Police Cadets program gives high school students interested in law enforcement a taste of what it ’ s like to be a police officer . Cadets learn policing skills from SROs and other APD personnel – and then put those skills to the test in competitions against other Cadet programs . In 2023 , the APD Cadets placed second overall in one of the region ’ s largest competitions . The Hometown Recruiting Program also continues to thrive . High school seniors who are considering a career in public safety can apply to this year-long course , which is taught out of the Arlington ISD Career Tech Center . Students take a deep dive into policing and criminal justice , learning directly from APD personnel . Program graduates who then go on to receive a four-year college degree are guaranteed a job interview with APD . Several Hometown Recruiting grads are now APD officers .
The department continues to support other successful youth programs including Coach 5-0 , the High School Citizens Police Academy , and Mentoring Arlington Youth ( MAY ). In 2023 , the department hosted a MAY summit that brought hundreds of young men together with adult male role models for a day of mentoring , fun , and fellowship .
26 | 2023 Annual Report