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The primary function of Community Services is to foster goodwill within the community by providing solutions to problems. Included within this division are the School Resource Officer Program, Community Oriented Policing Services, Special Community Action Team, and Property Management.
School Resource Officers are specially trained officers assigned to middle and high schools. Their job is to serve as liaisons between students and officers by providing law-related education classes and assisting in counseling students with problems.
COPS and SCAT officers are tasked with solving root problems that help criminals and hinder police. In housing complexes, SCAT officers meld with the housing community by being accessible to the tenants when they have questions or problems. SCAT officers ride on bikes or in standard patrol vehicles in an effort to bring the police officer back to the community.
Meanwhile, COPS officers are assigned to troubled areas as problems arise. These officers are specially trained to look beyond immediate problems for possible causes. Once these causes - such as delinquent and abandoned housing or poor street lighting - are identified, efforts are made to resolve them by bringing community resources together.
The Property Management Section is responsible for controlling and maintaining all confiscated, abandoned and/or lost property brought to the department.
Through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, volunteers provide invaluable assistance by answering phones and handling various requests.
This section also serves as the central office for the Trauma Intervention Program where specially trained volunteers respond to various crises to help victims deal with emotional side effects of crime or disasters, thus enabling officers to continue their investigations at a scene.
Over the past few years, hundreds of people have had an opportunity to experience the workings of the Pensacola Police Department and get to know some of its personnel through the Citizens Police Academy and Teen Police Academy.
Community Services can be reached by telephone at 850.435.1905.
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