In Partnership for safer communities
This is vision of the Texas Citizens on Patrol Association (TCOPA). In June of 2008 several law enforcement agencies from around Texas joined together at the first ever TCOPA state Conference. It was held in Grandbury ,Texas and there at that conference was the formation of the Texas Citizens on Patrol Association. It was intended to be a not for profit 501-3c tax exempt organization. It was formed with the intent to help Citizens on Patrol organizations across the great state of Texas become more organized, better trained, and provide resource sharing so that they can be successful in their communities. Success comes by helping to reduce crime and supporting their law enforcement agencies through observing and reporting crime.
Together we are strong
The Board
To contact us please send an email to the TCOPA Board
2024 TCOPA Board
President Angelo Marmarinos
Angelo has served as the TCOPA President since June of 2023. He is a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and has been a police officer over 14 years. Angelo is currently employed as a Lieutenant with the Round Rock Police Department overseeing the departments DWI Unit, Honor Guard Team, and Citizens on Patrol. The C.O.P. team has been his most exuberating team to supervise as it consists of a great group of dedicated volunteers giving their free time to help the mission of the department. Angelo has supervised the C.O.P. team since 2012 and has significantly enhanced the quality of training, productivity, participation, and confidence. He has been a part of TCOPA since 2012 and plans to bring the organization to the next level by bringing fresh ideas for recruiting, training, and purpose.
A message from your TCOPA President,
Thank you all for visiting our website to learn more about this great organization. Please know that your TCOPA board members and I are working diligently to update the website with new material to make it more user friendly. Our goal is to enhance the quality of members with updated training, develop official training curriculum, and share resources for crime prevention efforts. When our members thrive within their respected communities, we thrive. The state of Texas is large and C.O.P.’s across our great state all has one thing in common. Each of them all want to make a difference by supporting their officers by honorable service. I’m so thankful for the service each of you do and please know that we support you. Your board members and I are here to assist you and your organization regardless if you are a member. The goal is public safety, and we are committed to achieving it by enhancing our members.
1st Vice president: Shirley Zertuche
Hello, my name is Shirley Zertuche and I am originally from San Antonio, Texas. I’ve been in Fort Worth for 24 years and consider it my hometown. I presently work as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Fort Worth Police Department’s Code Blue Programs.
2nd Vice president: George Joos
George started his volunteering at Round Rock by graduating with class 5 of the Round Rock Citizens Police Academy in 1999. George has served multiple terms on the Alumni Association board, various committees, and was a founding member of the Citizens on Patrol in 2002. In 2006 he was appointed Field Trainer for the COP. In 2019 George served as the Secretary and webmaster of the Planning Committee for the successful Texas Citizen on Patrol state convention held in Round Rock. He currently holds the position as the COP Administrative Coordinator responsible for scheduling/tracking patrols and training along with equipment maintenance.
In addition George has worked in the semiconductor industry for over 30 years. Currently he holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineer and Master of Science in Computer Engineering. George is currently working with the CPU/Graphics design team at Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) in Austin.
Secretary : Audrey Branum
My name is Audrey Branum, most of my friends call me Shorty, a nickname given to me by my husband. I retired from a Metal Manufacturing company in 2011. My primary role there was Accounts Receivable and Payroll.
I joined Citizens on Patrol in July of 2022 after attending the Odessa Police Departments Citizen’s Police Academy. I was inspired to volunteer with the COP’s and help in any way that I could. I feel in these times of unrest with the police departments it’s important to show our support and help in our communities. I am the secretary of the local COP group and go out patrolling whenever possible.
I have also volunteered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. I served on the executive board with our local chapter from 1995-2005, and I am currently volunteering with Alliance Therapy Dogs.
When I’m not volunteering I love to travel, quilt, and just hang out with friends and family.
Treasurer: Gordon Furbush
Hello, I am Gordon Furbush and I was elected TCOPA Treasurer for the next two year term.
I am a 2013 graduate of the Cedar Hill Police Department’s CPAAA. I then joined the COP program and was named 2015 COP of the Year. In 2016, I was a founding member of the COP Board tasked with creating a Policy and Procedures Manual to train all existing and new COP’s into the future. Our next project was to design and implement a Handicap Parking Enforcement Program. I was tasked to be the Field Training Instructor for the new program by our Police Corporal over the CPAAA and COP’s and that led to my current position of Senior Field Training Instructor.
I am a certified Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, and Instructor for the Best Southwest CERT {Community Emergency Response Team} for New Member training of all First Aid Classes for the past five years. I have also completed FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 which covers Introduction, Basic and National Incident Management System Frameworks.
I look forward to serving you and helping to advancing your Cop programs through your association with TCOPA.
Parlimentarian : Allan Nurenberg
Over the last 8 years, Allan has served on the Board of Directors for the Round Rock Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association as President and Vice-President all while acting as one of the Citizen on Patrols Field Trainers. He currently holds the position as the COP Training Coordinator implementing training curriculum and performance standards for the program. In 2018, Allan was the recipient of the Thomas Windham COP Member of the Year Award from the Texas Citizens on Patrol Association.
Allan also served as the volunteer Planning Committee Chairman for the very successful 2019 Texas Citizen on Patrol annual state convention that was held in Round Rock.
In addition to his volunteer resume, Allan is a multi-unit franchise owner and is on the Board of Directors, National Creative Committee, Marketing and Operations committee for his national franchisee association.
Allan and his family love to spend time down at the beach in Port Aransas or on the lake in Austin.
Region 1 President: OPEN
Region 2 president : Royce Gastineau
Royce Gastineau is a Captain with the Decatur Police Department and currently oversees the Support Services Division. He coordinates the Decatur Police Department Citizens Police Academy and oversees the Citizens on Patrol program. Captain Gastineau is also the assigned Liaison Officer to the Decatur Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. He is active in community programs and oversees numerous projects, including National Night Out, Santa Cops, Back the Blue Scholarship Golf Tournament, Summer Vacation Day at Decatur PD, and the Youth Law Enforcement program.
Region 3 President: Bobby Lea
I have lived in Odessa, Texas most of my life. My career was mostly in outside sales
I graduated from Citizens Academy #8 in 1996. After graduating I started volunteering in the Volunteers in Policing offered by the Odessa Police Department Community Relations Department. We mainly volunteered at the Police Store Fronts on evenings and weekends. Later in 1996 we started the Holiday parking lot patrols the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas to observe and report any suspicious activity. We did this in our own vehicles.
In 1998 the Community Relations Department along with the approval of the Chief of Police and the City Council established the Citizens on Patrol. Our first patrol was on July 3, 1998
I have served as Assistant Coordinator, and Coordinator and now as one of the Leads(trainers) in our organization.
Region 4 President: Phil Niewald
I have lived in the Houston Texas area since 1992. I am retired from 45 plus years of sales and management in the logistics, supply chain and fleet leasing industry.
I started my COP involvement with LaPorte program in 2012 and have remained active with them ever since. I graduated from Humble CPA in 2010. In 2013 I started working on trying to convince Humble PD to start a COP unit. Finally, in 2017 we started Humble COP!
I have been visiting with several CPAs around southeast Texas the last couple of years before being on the TCOPA board to work with them when they are ready to start a Citizens On Patrol unit. Now with being on the TCOPA board, I now have more resources to help with any needs. The need for officers in all law enforcement departments, COP are extra eyes and ears on the streets for minimal expense.
I have graduated from several Citizens Police Academies and have held several board positions over the last several years. Also have been on the MADD Volunteer Board as NO REFUSAL Chair since 2012.
My volunteer activity before COP and CPA was served as crew and quartermaster for 20 years on the Texas Tall Ship ELISSA out of the Port of Galveston. Also had the opportunity to crew on the tall ships Victory Chimes and American Eagle out of Rockland Maine.
I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the TCOPA Board as President of Region 4 and look forward to helping it and COP organizations grow!
