Community Oriented Policing Services
Lt Bill Stevens is the COPS Division commander. The COPS Division provides multiple areas of instruction; Neighborhood Watch Programs, Anti Robbery for Businesses, Personal Safety, Shoplifting / Credit Card Fraud Prevention, Child Safety for Parents, Rape Prevention, Home Security, Personal Development, Drug Awareness, Gang Awareness. Sgt Stephen Daniels may be contacted for setting up classes.
C.O.P.S.
The City of Duluth Police Department is committed to C.O.P.S. (Community Oriented Police Services). Our Goal is to enhance the quality of community life in the Duluth by establishing partnerships between residents, businesses and police. Officer Bill Stevens in the Community Relations can be contacted for further information on our C.O.P.S. programs.
Advance Program
ADVANCE is a seven-session program designed to give 5th grade students in Gwinnett County the skills and knowledge to deal with pressures they might face as they transition into the middle school environment. Topics like peer-pressure, stress, violence, gangs and drugs are covered during each of the 45-minute sessions taught by a Duluth Police Officer. The program also provides mentoring to the students by local law enforcement officers. At the end of these sessions, a “graduation” is held for the students who have successfully completed this program. Currently, Duluth’s ADVANCE program is only offered for 5th graders at Chattahoochee Elementary School.
Citizens Police Academy
The CPA- CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) provides citizens an understanding of their police department and how to self-rescue themselves and their neighbors during disasters.
COPS Neighborhoods
COPS Neighborhood program is similar to the Neighborhood Watch program. A COPS officer is assigned as a neighborhood liaison to assist the neighborhoods in developing the program within their neighborhood. Officers meet with homeowner association/COPS Neighborhood group three times each year with a recommendation that one meeting is a very informal gathering. Our Program is modeled after the Gwinnett COPS Neighborhood which is in use around the state and taught by all police academies.
Operation Drive Smart
Operation Drive Smart is in its 6th year as a statewide multi-phase program teaching teen safe driving in high schools environment. Duluth officers travel throughout the state partnering with local police, sheriff and fire departments. We bring the program to the local schools free of charge with state highway safety providing funding.
- “In a Split Second” is very similar to the Ghost Out program. The Duluth program covers a full week with two events: Monday – Crash re-enactment and Friday – Funeral service. Tuesday – Thursday: in-school news updates.
- Drive Smart Expo: Set up in the school’s stadium, ODS brings in 12 – 18 educations booths covering every aspect associated with a motor vehicle crash.
- Crash management, Crash reconstruction, Speed Enforcement, ER, Railroad crossing, Helicopter rescue, extrication, field sobriety, drugs & driving, driving simulator, roll-over simulator, DUI goggles & Specialty car, Insurance considerations, etc.
- Classroom education: Legal aspects, DUI, Simulator training
Operation One Voice
Operation One Voice is a multi-state program supporting children and families of fallen & wounded Special Operations Forces. Operation One Voice, Inc is a non-profit corporation managed by public safety officers and community leaders that govern the program and funds. Partnering Agencies: Gwinnett Sheriff, Gwinnett Police, Fire, Lawrenceville Police, Albany Police & Fire, GA State Patrol, Florida Hwy Patrol, Tallahassee (FL) Police, Tampa (FL) Fire & Police, Hall County Fire, North Carolina State Police, South Carolina State Police, Virginia State Police. OOV has established public safety chapters in Hall County (North GA Chapter), Albany (Southwest GA Chapter) and Tallahassee, FL (North Florida Chapter).
Neighborhood Watch
The Duluth Police COPS Neighborhood Watch Program is a crime prevention program that involves educating citizens and encouraging common sense practices. Participating neighborhoods are taught to identify and report suspicious activity in order to make their community safer which improves the quality of life for all. Observation and awareness are the main focus as a means of preventing crime. Strategies as simple as promoting social interaction and “watching out for each other” are promoted as well.
Maintaining an active Duluth COPS Neighborhood Program requires four meetings over the course of one year. Typically, one of the meetings includes a Duluth Officer who provides information for the citizens, and another is strictly a social event.
In order to be considered a COPS Neighborhood, at least 65% of all homes in the neighborhood must participate in the initial introductory meeting. This meeting is hosted by the neighborhood’s Homeowners Association and includes a presentation by a Duluth Community Police Officer about the benefits and requirements that go along with having a Neighborhood Watch Program.
For additional information or to set up an initial meeting, contact Sgt Stephen Daniels at sdaniels@duluthpd.com
Vacation House Check
The Police Department’s “vacation house check” program (VHC program) provides daily home security checks while the resident is out of town. In addition, officers from the C.O.P.S. Unit can provide home security analysis and recommendation on making the resident’s homes hard targets.