Building partnerships
The Joshua Police Department is strengthening its connection with the community through several citizen involvement programs, including the Joshua Citizens Police Academy, the Joshua Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association and the Citizens on Patrol program. Together, these programs give residents a behind-thescenes look at law enforcement while providing valuable volunteer support to the department.
CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY
The Joshua Citizens Police Academy is a six-week program designed to give residents a better understanding of how the police department operates. Classes are held once a week for two hours and cover a wide range of topics. Participants also receive training on civilian responses to active-shooter situations.
“ The Citizens Police Academy starts with a six-week program,” said Sgt. Jason Wright, who oversees the program.“ We teach them about arrest procedures, penal code, traffic code, mental health and everything that we deal with. It’ s very eye-opening for most people.”
The academy began in 2010 and has had more than 100 participants complete the program. After graduating, participants automatically become eligible to join the Joshua Citizens Police
Academy Alumni.
The JCPAA is a nonprofit volunteer organization that supports the police department through fundraising and community involvement. Funds raised by the association help purchase equipment and supplies for the department that may not be covered in the city budget.
“ They do fundraisers and they’ ll buy us things,” Wright said.“ We have to formally request it, then they present it at their meeting and vote on it. It’ s all volunteer.”
CITIZENS ON PATROL
One of the newest programs at the Joshua Police Department is the Citizens on Patrol program, which launched in September and has already grown to nearly 19 members. Participants must first complete the Citizens Police Academy and be active members of the Alumni Association before joining the patrol program.
Citizens on Patrol volunteers serve as extra eyes and ears for the police department. They assist with traffic control at accident scenes, help with community events, conduct vacation checks and assist with neighborhood watch programs. They also help during events such as National Night Out, Christmas parades and community festivals.
“ For us, they’ re an extra set of eyes and ears,” Wright said.“ They help us on crashes with traffic control, help with events and just help out wherever we need them.”
Volunteers patrol in pairs and lack law enforcement authority, but they play an important support role by observing, reporting issues, and assisting officers when needed.
“ It takes pressure off of having to call officers in on their days off to work events,” Wright said.“ They’ re always willing to help and do anything— all I have to do is ask.”
While volunteers do not have law enforcement authority and cannot make traffic stops or arrests, they play an important role by observing and reporting issues and assisting officers when needed.
These programs allow residents to become more involved in their community while helping the police department extend its reach. With a limited number of officers, volunteer programs like Citizens on Patrol provide valuable assistance at events and community programs while keeping officers available for emergency calls.
More importantly, the programs help build trust and understanding between residents and law enforcement, creating a stronger and more connected community.
For information on either program, visit cityofjoshuatx. us.
10 Joshua Community Guide 2026