The Waynesboro Police Department (WPD) is committed to upholding the highest standards of community policing by providing comprehensive Community Services for our residents and businesses.

Community involvement and support is the key to a safe and thriving city. Our most valuable asset in enhancing safety and security, and positively influencing the quality of life in Waynesboro is a proactive, supportive community. To this end, we offer:

Citizens Police Academy: Open to all residents over 21, the nine-week course provides an up-close look at WPD operations and policies; classroom instruction (investigations, narcotics, CSI); demonstrations (K-9, SWAT); and practical exercises (traffic enforcement and firearms). Held twice a year.

PACT (Police and Community Together): A neighborhood watch program where residents and police work together – to identify issues in neighborhoods to prevent crimes, and clarify any misinformation about alleged criminal incidents.

Major Mary S. Bennett

C.O.P. PROGRAM (Citizens on Patrol): A volunteer community program where residents undergo several weeks of training in the various areas of the department and then use our patrol vehicle to patrol the city in an effort to identify suspicious incidents and/or criminal behavior. The C.O.P. volunteer then notifies the dispatcher who sends a certified peace officer to the location for further investigation. This program provides additional eyes and ears in the community in an effort to enhance safety and security.

RESERVE OFFICER PROGRAM: Officers who are certified in the State of Georgia and who hold current certification (in good standing) may apply to work as reserve officers in our agency. The officers are sworn in as Waynesboro Police Department officers and are required to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours per month. These officers must adhere to WPD policies and procedures and must train as a fulltime officer of the department.

POLICE EXPLORER PROGRAM: The Waynesboro Police Department Explorer Program is a program for young men and women (ages 14 to 21) interested in learning about careers in law enforcement. Explorers learn about career opportunities and duties in a classroom environment and through actual hands-on field experiences. Meeting presentations include training on police duties, forensic sciences, self-defense, investigations, and firearms. The program is part of the Community Policing division along with the Waynesboro Police Department. Explorers will meet regularly for uniform inspection, training, discussions, and planning of many different projects and events Explorers participate in all year long. Members of the Explorer Post will direct traffic at parades and other special events, help search for missing children, assist on routine patrol, help with duties in the police department, and assist with

community outreach efforts in our community. The Explorer program is designed by the Boy Scouts of America to show young men and women what a career in law enforcement is about. By seeing what the career is like at an early age, they can decide if that is what they want to pursue when they graduate high school and start college. Explorers will be exposed to different law enforcement careers in order to give them a wider selection to choose from. Members may go on to be officers, reserve officers, and federal law enforcement officers. Interested teenagers can join the Waynesboro Police Explorers by being between the ages of 14 and 21, being in high school or college with at least a "C" average, being in good standing with all Waynesboro Police Officers and civilian employees, and must be free of any criminal record.