Volunteers Come to Southlake for Annual DFW COP Conference

This Saturday, April 18, more than 150 COPs (Citizens on Patrol) and VIPs (Volunteers in Police Service) will gather at Southlake’s DPS North state-of-the-art training facility for the annual DFW COP Conference. The volunteers in attendance will represent agencies from about 30 cities across North Texas.

The annual event provides volunteers with a great opportunity to share information and learn best practices from other law enforcement agencies. Past attendees have found the exchange of ideas amongst volunteers to very beneficial.  The daylong conference is also a time for members to build relationships and friendships within the volunteer policing community.

The Southlake Police Department likes to boast of having one of the best and most dedicated group of volunteers around. Whether it’s walking the beat in Town Square during large events like Octoberfest or Art in the Square to patrolling Southlake neighborhoods – our volunteers work to help keep our community safer. Interim Chief James Brandon says, “Our COPs and VIPS volunteers provide a great service to the City of Southlake and the police department. To see the kind of dedication that exists with our volunteers is very humbling. They are on the job rain or shine which shows their commitment and how much they enjoy what they do.”

COPs and VIPS volunteers are all about giving back to the community. In an average year they put in thousands of hours of service. The City of Southlake is pleased to have so many dedicated volunteers that are spread out across the City. Other volunteers work in Fire Rehab, parks and recreation, teen court, the library and senior center just to name a few.

The conference wraps up the last day of National Volunteer Appreciation Week. What a fitting way to end the conference with a room full of volunteers who are the heart and soul of so many Cities. The City of Southlake for one is grateful for all the services that each of you provide. YOU help make us better. Go ahead – pat yourself on the back – you deserve it!