ESTMENTS
Some of those programs include:
Police Activities League( PAL): Each summer, SROs organize and lead weeklong day camps for students entering 8 th or 9 th grade. During these PAL camps, students learn about the role of police in the community, play games with SROs, and go on field trips.
BGC and 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 after-school program called BGC & APD. During the program, APD officers from various units including Motors, 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 March of 2024, Cadets placed second overall in a local competition.
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 complete 60 college hours are eligible to apply without a 4-year degree. Several Hometown Recruiting grads are now APD officers. One graduate joined as a member of Class 70 and another joined as a detention officer. A Class 8 Hometown Recruiting graduate and former APD Cadet began the Basic Police Academy in January of 2025. He is the first AISD Police Academy graduate to utilize the new 60-hour college credit provision.
The department continues to support other successful youth programs including Coach 5-0, the High School Citizens Police Academy, and Mentoring Arlington Youth( MAY).
ARLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT / arlingtonpd. org 2024 ANNUAL REPORT 29