The Plano Police Department recruits, trains and supervises citizen volunteers who wish to assist Plano Police Officers. These citizen volunteers are not commissioned as sworn officers and have no enforcement authority beyond that of any citizen but assist Officers with designated, non-confrontational activities.

After completing basic training in the Citizens Assisting Plano Police (CAPP) program, citizen volunteers complete at least 4 hours of patrol per month. Citizen volunteers  perform "Open Garage Door" patrol, provide security for functions such as; Kids Night Out, Dickens Festival and the Blackland Prairie Festival,  handle special enforcement requests, such as investigating speeding in school zones (relaying information to the traffic division),  assist in lost children/adults, monitor the SkyWatch program (sky towers set up in shopping areas to deter auto theft and parking lot security), aid in crime scene assistance (setting up barricades and outer perimeter help), festival/parade patrols, assist in officer shuttles (such as between the station, an accident scene or hospital), inspect the perimeter integrity of identified homeland security sites, work as “victims” in various training and emergency management scenarios, and aid in a variety of administration situations such as front desk assistance at the central police station.

Citizen volunteers are issued equipment by the police department, wear official CAPP uniforms, and drive specially marked vehicles bearing the CAPPs logo. Volunteers receive specialty training in their field of interest, rather than being generalists in all areas and can choose from a variety of shift duties and hours.

The program provides a platform for citizens who want to serve their community while assisting law enforcement. Citizen volunteer qualifications:

1)  must have a valid Texas Driver License,
2)  must live or work in Plano,
3)  must be 21 years of age,
4)  have no felony convictions in any state,
5)  have no DWI convictions in the past 10 years,
6)  have no more than one class C misdemeanor
        conviction in the last three years,
7)  must be in compliance with Texas liability insurance requirements for motorists, and
8)  must be an alumni of the Citizen’s Police Academy.

To gain more information about CAPP Program and/or the free Citizens Police Academy contact Sergeant Lindy Privett at 972-941-2432.