VOLUNTEER INITIATIVES PROGRAM - Citizens Offering Police Support (C.O.P.S.)
C.O.P.S. is the base component of the Police VIP, forming the core support group of volunteers who serve to enhance the delivery of police service to the citizens of Houston. There are many C.O.P.S. volunteer opportunities throughout the department. Review the listings below to find the volunteer opportunity you are interested in and then contact the Houston Police VIP office (713 308-3200) to learn more.
Auto Theft Division Location:Police Headquarters, 1200 Travis (Downtown) Time: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Duties: Front Desk/Clerical; Supplementing Police Reports
Burglary & Theft Division
Locations: Police Headquarters, 1200 Travis (Downtown)
North Police Station, 9455 W. Montgomery
Southeast Police Station, 8300 Mykawa
Westside Police Station, 3203 S. Dairy Ashford Time: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Duties: Front Desk/ Clerical; Pawn Detail - Clerical, Entering Pawn Slips into the computer
Command Center Division
Location: Police Headquarters, 1200 Travis (Downtown) Time: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Duties: Updating files and logbooks, Entering Police Motor Vehicle Pursuits into a Computer Database, Monitoring the Police Computer Aided Dispatch system, Internet, and TV’s for significant events
Crime Analysis Division Location: Police Headquarters, 1200 Travis (Downtown)
Time: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Duties: Statistical Data Entry, Verification of Data Accuracy, Conduct Literature Reviews, Research of City Ordinance and Policies, Report Production and Binding
Homicide Office, Sex Crimes, and Family Violence Units
Duties:
Phones, Filing, Assisting Police Crime Analyst by coordinating and conducting searches for data/information
Crime Scene Unit Duties: Phones, Compiling unit statistics, organizing and sorting supplies and equipment, assisting supervisors with duties and assignments
Administration
Duties: Data entry of bicycle registrations and property dispositions; Phones, quality control of fingerprint cards, Clerical
Intake Section
Duties: Assisting police officers in data entry for missing juveniles/persons; linking arrested juveniles in computer system; supplementing arrest/release reports; Notifying parents/guardians of juveniles in custody; front desk; Monitoring incoming reports and distributing them to the appropriate investigative divisions; Providing information and counsel to families.
Sex Crimes/Children’s Assessment Center
Duties: Data entry converting Child Protective Services (CPS) referrals into department offense reports; Front desk; Transcribing videotaped statements
Location: Children’s Assessment Center, 2500 Bolsover
Sex Crimes Unit
Duties: Front desk; Assisting citizen seeking services and information; transcribing videotaped statements, Conducting basic research via the internet and HPD system.
Special Investigations Unit
Duties: Entering case information into department computer system and Missing Persons/Juvenile Division database; Clerical duties; Clearing TRAK/Critical Reach Missing Persons bulletins; Making referrals to various agencies such as CPS and Dispute Resolution
Sex Offender Registration
Duties: Phones, Update files, Entering information into the HPD sex offender database; schedule sex offender’s appointments for registration
Marshal Division Location: Municipal Courts Building, 1400 Lubbock
Time: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Duties: Front Desk; Phones; Provide directions and information to citizens
PATROL DIVISIONS
Airport - Bush Intercontinental
Location: 3100 Terminal Road North
Airport - Hobby Location: 7800 Airport Blvd.
Central Location:61 Riesner
Clear Lake
2855 Bay Area Blvd.
Eastside
Location:
7525 Sherman
Fondren Location: 11168 Fondren
Kingwood
3915 Rustic Woods
North Location:9455 W. Montgomery
Northeast
Location:8301 Ley
Northwest Location: 6000 Teague
South Central Location:2022 St. Emanuel
Southeast
Location:8300 Mykawa
Southwest
4503 Beechnut
Westside
3203 S. Dairy Ashford
Duties for all Patrol Stations: Front desk/Clerical/Phones, Issuing Police radios and equipment to officers, Conduct inventories of police equipment (police cars, radios, etc.), Entering Tow Slips and Police Work Cards, Police Report Entry, Assisting with Community meetings, Translation (if bilingual), Police Car operations - logging police car data, assist with police car upkeep, clean and maintain police vehicles, Update files and equipment logbooks, police officer work card entry Timefor all Patrol Stations: 24-hour operation
Robbery Division
Location: Police Headquarters, 1200 Travis (Downtown) Time: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Duties: Front Desk/Clerical; Generate Offense and supplement Robbery reports; Process contact letters to complainants; Track property slips; Assist video officer in processing and filing videos from robbery cases
Special Operations Division
Administration - Duties: Front Desk/Clerical; Complete police reports; Data entry; Assist the Fleet Maintenance officer with stocking and organizing shop supplies Location: 1500 Louisiana Time: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mon. – Fri.
Mounted Patrol -
Duties: Front desk; Greet Visitors; Clerical; Clean barn area including seeping hallways and horse stalls; Clean tack; Clean and fill water buckets;
Assist stable attendants with feeding horses; After demonstrating safety around horses:
(Groom and saddle horses & lead horses around facility) Location: 300 North Post Oak Lane Times: Frontdesk - 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stable work – 24-hour operation
Special Response Group (SRG) Duties: - front desk/clerical, event administration (set up police officer roll calls, signs, directions, sound systems), log in officers as they arrive for event; handout event work-ups and assignments as police officers arrive; hand out equipment to police officers (i.e., police radios, traffic vests, radio batteries), event logistics - assist with the delivery of water, food flares, traffic cones, barricades, and equipment prior to and during the event; supplement officers during the event (mid-block traffic assignments, information booths, lost and found) Locations: Locations will vary depending on the event and assignment Time: Hours will vary depending on event and assignment
STOREFRONTS
Central
Locations:
Neartown Storefront, 802 Westheimer
Heights Storefront, 910 N. Durham
Eastside
Locations:
Leija Police Storefront, 4701 Galveston Rd.
Fondren
Locations:
Braeburn Storefront, 10101
Gulfton Storefront, 5980 Renwick #A
North
Locations:
Independence Heights Storefront, 803 Crosstimbers
Near North Storefront, 1335 W. 43rd
Northeast
Locations:
East Freeway, 12001 East Freeway
Fifth Ward, 4300 Lyons #200
Jensen Street, 9211 Jensen
Lyons Avenue, 6702 Lyons Ave.
Northwest Locations:
Gessner Storefront, 1331 Gessner
Spring Branch Storefront, 8400 Longpoint #A
Southeast
Locations:
Broadway Storefront, 8151 Broadway
Palm Center Storefront, 5300 Griggs #A101
Sunnyside Storefront, 3511 Reed
Telephone Road Storefront, 10201 Telephone
South Central Locations:
Navigation Storefront, 4400 Navigation
Southmore Storefront, 3711 Southmore
Southwest Locations:
Hiram Clarke
4363 W. Fuqua
Gulfton
5980 Renwick
Westbury
5600 South Willlow
Westside Locations:
Clarkcrest
6308 Richmond Ave.
Westwood
9700 Bissonnet
Ranchester
9146 Bellaire
Duties for all Police Storefronts: front desk/clerical/phones, assistance to citizens, police report entry, assisting police officers with community events/programs, assist with documenting graffiti Time for all Police Storefronts:8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon. – Fri.
Tactical Operations Division Locations: SWAT, Bomb Squad & HNT – 1500 West Dallas
Dive Team – 33 Artesian (Central Police Station)
K9 – 300 North Post Oak Lane Time: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. – Fri.
SWAT Detail, Bomb Squad, K-9 Detail, Dive Team, Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT) Duties: Front Desk/Clerical; Inventory Management; Fleet management; Cleaning equipment
Technology Services Division Location: 33 Artesian (Central Police Station Annex) Time: Anytime between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Duties: Filing; Preparation and documentation of records;
Computerized file setup (organize files into folders/verify folder selections) on PC;
Create backups of documents (save files from systems to CD-ROM);
Victim Services Unit Location: Police Headquarters, 1200 Travis Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mon. – Fri.
Duties: Provide front desk assistance and greet citizens seeking information, Clerical assistance, Review police reports to identify victims of crime utilizing the on-line police offense report system, Provide information to crime victims about their constitutional rights as a victim of crime, Assist crime victims in applying for crime victims compensation, Assist with the education and training for departmental personnel, public and other local service providers about the needs and rights of crime victims.
Traffic Division Location: Central Police Station, 61 Riesner
Time: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Duties: Front Desk - Phones, Filing, Video review and Maintenance
Disqualifiers: You are disqualified from become a C.O.P.S Volunteer if any of the following apply:
You are not a legal United States resident.
Under 17 years of age (Unless specifically noted in component qualification).
Been convicted of a Class A Misdemeanor or higher in the past.
Been convicted of a Class B Misdemeanor in the past 10 years.
Used (tried) or sold any dangerous drugs or narcotics including cocaine, crack heroin, LSD.
Been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces.
Had a pattern of abusing prescription drugs.
Had excessive traffic violations within the past five years.
Been previously employed as a law enforcement officer and since have committed or violated Federal, State, or City laws pertaining to criminal activity.
Current City Employee status.
A physical or mental disability that would substantially impair an individual’s ability to perform his/her duties.
Unlawful sexual conduct prior to and/or during volunteer term.
Committed a felony prior to and/or during volunteer term.
Inappropriate behavior relating to sexual harassment or other types of racial slurs.
Committed any act or behavior tending to bring reproach or discredit to themselves or the Houston Police Department.
