COMMUNITY PROGRAMS UNIT

This group has many duties associated with all facets of Community Programs; there are a number of Community Service Officers assigned to the Unit. The Community Programs Unit educates the citizens of Pomona about crime prevention through meetings. They also encourage and assist community members to form Neighborhood Watch Groups and Business Watch Groups. Watch groups can meet once a month. During Neighborhood Watch meetings, Community Service Officers address a different topic involving crime prevention or safety.

Information about criminal activity is often related at these meetings. This information is passed on to the appropriate enforcement group. Neighborhood and Business Watch Groups are just part of the meetings attended by Community Programs team members. The list below represents the events hosted annually for members of the community:

• Coffee with a Cop:  Coffee with a Cop is a program designed to break barriers between the police and members of the community in an open forum over a cup of coffee.  

• Shred-A-Thon:  A shredding event open to the community and allows people to bring their confidential documents to be shredded at no cost. Shredding your confidential documents helps protect your information from falling into the wrong hands.
• Citizen’s Academy:  This annual 10-week program entails classroom presentations, activities, and demonstrations one night a week for three hours. The objective of the program is to educate the community on the various aspects of law enforcement, build relationships, and create ambassadors. Participants must be 18+ and work, live, or attend school in Pomona.
• Drug Take Back:  The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) periodically hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back events. During these Drug Take Back Days, temporary drug collection sites are set up in communities nationwide for safe disposal of prescription drugs. Local law enforcement agencies may also sponsor medicine take back events in your community.
• National Night Out:  National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and to make our neighborhoods safer.
• Santa Cop: A program hosted by PPD every December to help and give back to families that are in need. 

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

The Pomona Police Department and the Pomona Unified School District are in partnership to provide School Resource Officers (SRO) for the elementary, middle, and high schools within the Pomona School district. The SRO’s are responsible for working with school administrators, security staff, and parents to ensure the schools are a safe environment for students to learn. SRO's educate parents about truancy, drug and gang prevention, social media dangers and other common trends. In addition and in conjunction with the Pomona Unified School District, SRO's connect parents with valuable parent resources. 

COPS 4 KIDS PROGRAM

The Pomona Cops 4 Kids program is a 12 week structured program established to serve children from ages 9-13 years old who attend a school within the Pomona Unified School District. The program aims to build a positive relationship between the youth, police, and the community at large.

The program’s goals are to provide the youth with alternatives to gangs, drugs and other criminal activities by providing them with the tools to overcome peer pressure and bullying. The Cops 4 Kids program offers educational and physical activities for youth to emphasize respect, responsibility, self-discipline and leadership. The program includes physical fitness and military drills to improve self confidence, eating habits, self-esteem, leadership and respect. The Cops 4 Kids programs help youth develop a positive self-image, successful interpersonal skills, and leadership skills which will encourage them to stay in school and play a constructive role in their community. 

At the completion of the 12 week program the Jr. Cadets will have experienced a sense of accomplishment and believe in their motto of “Respect Given is Respect Earned.”

Community Programs does make a difference.
If your neighborhood or area businesses would like to start a Neighborhood Watch Group please call: 909-620-2318.