- Youth Outreach Programs
- Public Safety Events
- Police Mountain Bike Patrol
- Community Awareness Meetings
- Citizen’s Police Academy
- Citizen’s Support Team
- Crime Prevention Unit
- Child Safety Seat Installation
- Block Party Permit Request
Youth Outreach Programs:
Our agency has two summer outreach programs in place and a third in the works. These programs included a Junior Police Academy, KidSmart Safety Camp, and the pending Explorer Program.
Explorer Post 1041
The Leesburg Police Department proudly sponsors Law Enforcement Explorer Post 1041 . Exploring is a worksite-based program for young men and women who have completed the eighth grade and are 14 years of age, or are 15 years of age but have not yet reached their 21st birthday.
Explorer Post 1041 help youth to gain insight into a variety of programs that offer hands-on career activities. For young men and women who are interested in careers in the field of law enforcement, Exploring offers experiential learning with lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities that promote the growth and development of adolescent youth.
In 2007, the LPD Explorer Post 1041 was the recipient of the National Capital Area Council "Rookie Post of the Year" award. To apply as a member of the post, contact post advisor Officer C.F. Tidmore at 703-771-4564.
KidSmart Safety Camp
The KidSmart Safety Camp is directed to children ages 6 to 10 and specifically targets safety related issues. The camp duration is 5 days and each day a new safety topic is covered. Those topics being, Personal Safety, Bicycle Safety, Firearms Safety (NRA Eddie Eagle Program) and Fire Prevention and Safety. The program has received rave reviews by the parents of children who attended the camp.
Public Safety Events:
The Leesburg Police Department is always willing to partner with civic organizations, HOA’s, parent or special interest groups to facilitate public safety. Our organization would be happy to work with your group to hold a public safety event. These events generally focus on a specific safety topic and our agency will display age appropriate materials and equipment along with a wide variety of public safety information. These events are a critical component of our Community Oriented Policing program and promote a better understanding of law enforcement for citizens and children. Groups who wish to hold a public safety event may contact the Community Services Section at 703-771-4500.
Police Mountain Bike Patrol:
Our police department currently has 16 bike patrol officers that may, at their discretion, perform their patrol duties by mountain bike. This too has proved a huge mechanism to bridge the gap between the public and our agency. We have found that a police officer on a mountain bike is more approachable than one in a patrol vehicle and in many cases citizens find it easier to strike up a conversation with an officer in this instance. It also allows officers to convey our safety messages to kids about proper riding and the need for bicycle safety helmets. The mountain bike patrol officers also have a tactical advantage in targeted enforcement. Their unusual means of approach and stealth have deterred crime in some areas based on the mere possibility a bike patrol officer could approach without being seen or heard. Two of the seven officers are assigned to the Special Services Section and the other five are assigned to the Patrol Section.
Community Awareness Meetings:
This program allows the general public a forum to air their concerns in their neighborhoods. It also provides the police department an opportunity to quell perceptions and address those concerned citizens face to face. Many times public perception is largely based on movies and televisions depiction of law enforcement and the public expectations may be based on the only reference they have, the media. This forum allows the police department to help the public better understand our jobs and how they can help us better protect their community. Many times the public may not understand our methodology or means but with a short meeting and the exchange of information the public leaves with a sense of ease and elation because they know that the police department is their for them and is in many cases, already working on a solution to the areas of concern. These meetings are generally coordinated through the Crime Prevention Unit. The Crime Prevention Unit can be contacted at 703-771-4564.
Citizen’s Police Academy:
This is a 12 week program where citizens can sign up to voluntary take a class to gain a better knowledge of the inner workings of their police department. This class also allows the citizens to gain a basic knowledge of law enforcement procedure, and methodology. This in turn helps the citizens better understand how they can be effective observers throughout the community and how to better help us keep their community safe. Many of the graduates of this academy go on to become members of our Citizen’s Support Team.
Citizen’s Support Team:
The citizens support team is a group of uniformed volunteers from the community that assists the police department with special events and emergency situations and, while performing neighborhood patrol, acts as additional eyes and ears in the community. Trained by the Leesburg Police Department in traffic direction techniques, the volunteers help with traffic control during parades and other special events and often are called up for emergency traffic duty during fires, serious traffic accidents, and hazardous materials incidents or bomb threat situations. The team members also provide safety information and child DNA identification kits at school and other children’s events. These volunteers also provide additional vehicle patrols in the community and report back any suspicious activity. They take no law enforcement action but act solely as observers while officers are enroute. In most incidents, these volunteers observe undetected and update officers on descriptions of vehicles and/or suspects and give direction of travel, etc. Their assistance has led to numerous arrests of persons that may have escaped had they not been under Support Team surveillance.
Crime Prevention Unit:
The Leesburg Police Department sponsors numerous crime prevention classes and provides specialized services at the request of the general public. These classes are taught by the department’s highly experienced crime prevention specialist. A small example of the types of classes that can be requested may be found below. The Leesburg Police Department also provides a wide variety of crime prevention services including residential and business security surveys, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) surveys, Community Watch, National Night Out, organized public safety fairs, and Crime Free Multi-Housing.
Available crime prevention classes:
- Personal Safety and Security
- Child Safety
- Traveling Safety
- Internet safety
- Senior Citizen Safety
- Campus Safety and Security
- Business Security
- Crime Prevention at Work
- Residential Security
- Holiday Safety
- Bicycle Safety
- Identity Theft Prevention
- Organizing Community Watch
- Gang Awareness
- Narcotic Identification and Awareness
- Burglary Prevention
- NRA Eddie Eagle Gun Safety for Kids
- Historical Preservation and Crime Prevention
- Bank Security and Safety
Child Safety Seat Installation:
Our agency has four AAA certified child seat installation technicians available to assist citizens with the installation of child safety seats. This service is by appointment and is done at Police Headquarters located at 65 Plaza Street N.E. The officers responsible for this services have over 40 years experience in the field of traffic safety and are certified by AAA and a the Nationals Safe Kids Coalition. Appointments can be made by calling 703-771-4500. This service is provided free of charge to the general public.
