Why a Police - Citizens Action Team? Due to the increased emphasis on homeland security, the Oxford Police Department has added a new program called P-CAT (Police Citizens Action Team). Members of this team are uniformed civilian non-sworn volunteers who enhance the security of Oxford by adding extra eyes and ears in the community. In order to become a member of this team, the citizens attend a 30 hour Police Citizens Academy training course held at the Oxford Police Department. Some of the topics covered in the seven session training program are: 

• Police ethics and responsibilities/policing strategies and philosophy 
• Basic criminal law review/search and seizure/use of force 
• Uniform patrol operations/police equipment/computers/cameras 
• Criminal investigations/crime scene investigations/evidence/property 
• Traffic enforcement/DWI/radar/pursuit policy 
• Firearms training review/defensive tactics/traffic control 
• Drug investigations/surveillance techniques/equipment 

After graduating from the citizens police academy, P-CATS provide a variety of functions including field assistance to police officers, traffic control, crime prevention programs, emergency communications assistance, non-hazardous surveillance, special event security etc. In the P-CAT patrol unit the Oxford Police Department P-CATS perform neighborhood and business patrol, street lights out counts, provide abandoned and junk cars count, and conduct light surveillance at selected locations. Walking assignments include the downtown area, shopping centers, residential neighborhoods and athletic fields. In some instances a P-CAT will ride along with a uniformed patrol officer to provide a second person in a patrol unit for specified duties.

The P-CAT volunteer program increases the presence of the police force and is an important tool in maintaining vigilance. The Police Department commends them for their willingness to serve.

To find out more about this volunteer opportunity, email Detective Shelly Chauvaux.