Garner Police Department Annual Report 2018 Published July 2019 | Page 17

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Garner Police Department encourages and
is committed to having our employees and our
department involved with community activities
and outreach to develop and maintain working
relationships with the people we serve.
The department was involved with the following
activities, programs, and projects during 2018:
Citizen’s Police Academy
The Citizens’ Police Academy, a ten week-long
program, is an opportunity for citizens to learn
how our Police Department works, to meet
officers who work in their community, and to learn
more about what it means to be a police officer
in Garner today. The Department conducted two
ten-week sessions in 2018; one in the spring and
a second in the fall. Thirteen students graduated
from the spring academy while nine students
graduated from the fall academy. The goal of the
Academy is to build relationships between officers
and the community through better understanding
of our jobs and functions. It also provides a forum
for feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Each week, one or more topics are taught by
members of the Department. Citizens have
opportunities for hands-on practical exercises
where appropriate. The following classes are
currently taught: Introduction to Class/Department
Overview, Communications, Vehicle Stops, Drug
Investigations/K-9, Arrest, Search and Seizure,
Domestic Violence Investigations, Use of Force,
Rapid Deployment, and Traffic Enforcement/
Crash Analysis/DWI Detection. After graduation,
students are given an opportunity to apply for the
Citizens and Police Together team (CAPT).
Citizens and Police Together
Citizens and Police Together (CAPT) is a volunteer
group composed of Citizens’ Police Academy
graduates who are willing to volunteer their time
to give back to their community. The CAPT mission
statement is, “The goal of the Citizens and Police
Together team is to partner with the officers and
support personnel to provide extra assistance as
needed, to be a positive influence, and to return
a service to the citizens of Garner that will make a
great community even greater.” CAPT consists of
15 volunteers and helps with such events as Child
ID stations, the July 3rd Celebration, National
Night Out, traffic control with annual parades, and
other events as needed. In 2018, the CAPT team
donated 852 hours of their time to the Town of
Garner and prepared 252 child identification kits.
If you are interested in becoming part of CAPT,
please contact Sgt. Sophia Sandlin (ssandlin@
garnernc.gov).
Achievement Camp
The Achievement Academy was originally
developed by our School Resource Officer
(SRO) and DARE officer in 1994 and was called
“Challenge Camp” at the time. The program
is aimed at students, both male and female, at
our two middle schools. Students are selected
by school counselors, school resource officers,
and police officers who volunteer with the
Garner Police Athletics/Activities League (PAAL),
based on a combination of expressed interest,
application process, and staff recommendations.
Those invited to attend are selected because they
have expressed a desire to challenge themselves
to overcome mental and physical obstacles and
to improve themselves, both individually and as a
team with their group.
The week-long Achievement Camp was held in
July 2018. Students attended a ropes course at NC
State’s Schenck Forest. There they learned about
team building and developed self-confidence
by overcoming high ropes courses and a zip
line. Students completed a community service
project by conducting a litter sweep on Vandora
Springs Rd. Students also had the opportunity
to participate in a paint ball competition at Panic
Point and ended the week with golf-carts at Rush
Hour Karting.
Civic Organizations
Members of the Garner Police Department serve
as volunteer members, leaders, and officers
of a number of civic organizations in the town,
including the Civitan Club, Optimist Club, the
Garner Educational Foundation, and both Rotary
Clubs. Many of our employees also serve as
volunteer coaches and mentors in area sports
leagues and after-school programs.
Membership in these organizations allows our
personnel and members of the community to
become better affiliated with one another outside
of normal police interactions. It also allows our
employees to demonstrate community leadership
GARNER POLICE DEPARTMENT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
17