We are excited to announce the 2024 Texas Citizens on Patrol Association Conference will be held in Decatur! The conference will be held on September 20-21 at the Decatur Conference Center. There is a hotel next door, which has provided a conference rate until August 27. Class details are being finalized and more information will be released as we get closer to the event. We look forward to seeing everyone and feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Please distribute conference information to your organizations and membership. Thanks!!
Registration Link: TCOPA 2024 Registration
Hotel Link (group rate expires 8/27): Book your group rate for Texas Citizens On Patrol Association
Schedule update:
Class List
If you registered for the conference the class signups went out the morning of September 4. These were sent two different ways. One email will be from Decatur PD, the other will be from Royce. Check your spam or other folders if you do not immediately see it. If you still do not see it and you paid for registration send email to the board. If you have not registered yet there is still time. We have a bunch of interesting classes this year.
List of classes Decatur is providing
- Basic COP Basic certification course for new volunteers. This will be all day Friday
- Advanced COP This course is for the certified volunteer, who is ready to learn advanced tactics and skills. This class will be split between Friday and Saturday morning
- Traffic Control This 2-hour session will teach traffic control basics in a classroom setting and then provide an opportunity to practice those skills in a real-life situation. Students will shut down a live intersection and direct traffic under the supervision of an officer.
- Vehicle Maintenance What should I look for while doing a vehicle check? Patrol units are a critical part of our programs and need to be maintained. This hands-on session will discuss and illustrate how to conduct these checks while providing tips on what to look for.
- COP Leadership* Roundtable discussion on leading a successful COP program. This session is for Coordinators and liaison officers only.
- Fundraising 101 Leadership discussion revolving around raising funds in support of our programs and our departments.
- Eyes and Ears: Maximizing Your impact as a Good Witness This session will focus on how we observe events/people and how we document this in a manner conducive to a successful investigation.
- Field Training Effective training of new volunteers can make or break a program. We will discuss what is involved in a Field Training program and how to create a program that effectively trains personnel. Additional emphasis will be placed on documentation of the process and observed tasks.
- Courtroom Procedures and Testimony Presented by County Attorney Che Rotramble this session will focus on what happens after a case is filed and presented to the court. Tips and techniques involving witness testimony will be included in this presentation from the prosecutor.
- Safeguarding Texas’ Children Child abuse affects every community in our state. The Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas orchestrates Texas’ response to child abuse and victimization. CAC is a vital resource available across the state and this presentation will discuss what and how they provide those resources, as well as critical information in safeguarding Texas children.
- Fire Suppression This hands-on session will teach how to properly deploy our fire extinguisher. While it seems a simple task, it is often not practiced. This session will prevent you from being caught in the hot seat.
- De-escalation This session will emphasize de-escalation techniques and will include a demonstration of these techniques by students in a controlled environment30
- Canine Encounters Similar to the mandated TCOLE course, this session will discuss encountering dangerous dogs and what to do…or not do.
- Bridging the Silence Interacting with special populations can be challenging. This course will discuss challenges and solutions for dealing with Deaf/hard-of-hearing citizens.
- Identity Theft Exposed: A Survivor’s Guide A journey through a victim’s struggle with Identity Theft. Discover firsthand to insights, learn about the emotional & financial impacts and gain practical
Protection tips to safeguard yourself from becoming a victim. - Professional Communication Police volunteers will develop essential skills for effectively engaging with the community they serve professionally. The course emphasizes communication skills, verbal cues, body language awareness, and de-escalation techniques.
