Related Info & Pages Community Relations Unit 1328 Race Street 2nd Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107 215.686-3380 215.686-3381 215.686-3382 215.686-3399 FAX

As it exists today, the Community Relations Unit serves as the liaison between the Managing Director's Officer for Town Watch, the Hero Scholarship Fund Administration, and the Police Department. In addition, the Unit provides programs such as Safety Education for school age children; the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program for 4th & 5th graders in city schools and the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) program to 6th and 7th grade student in both city schools during school months and city recreation centers during summer months.

The following is a synopsis of programs offered by or that the Community Relations Unit participates in.

Police District Advisory Council
The Police District Advisory Council or "P.D.A.C." as it is known was formed prior to 1992 to liaison between the Police Department and the community. Currently, 21 of 23 police districts have P.D.A.C. programs in operation, consisting of volunteers from the Community. Each district P.D.A.C. holds monthly meetings to discuss issues affecting the quality of life within their respective district. An election in held to appoint a chairperson and co-chairperson who speak in the interest of the District P.D.A.C. body during periodic meetings with the Police Commissioner and members of the Police Command Staff. to neighborhood policies, programs, problems and policing.

Ride-Along Program
The Ride-Along Program is a program which allows citizens to view the operation of the Police Department while riding with an on-duty officer. This program is co-ordinated by both the Community Relations Unit and District Community Relations Officers. Applicants may ride with police personnel in their respective districts, or receive a wider impression by riding with a Highway Patrol Officer patrolling the entire City. Participants must sign a waiver of liability prior to entering the police vehicle.

Annual Children's Christmas Parties
Annual Christmas parties for children in that district are handled on a District level by the District Community Relations Officer with the approval of the Commanding Officer of that District. Support for this activity are received from citizens and businesses in that area.

Operation Thanksgiving
Operation Thanksgiving is a program whereas the personnel of the Philadelphia Police Department donate funds in order to provide needy families a Thanksgiving Day dinner. The Philadelphia Police Department held this event for the 29th year in November of 1999. Funds are collected from all officers throughout the Department, and recipients of the dinners are received from officers, the Fraternal Order of Police, Churches, and Civic Associations.

Hero Scholarship Thrill Show
The Hero Scholarship Thrill Show is an annual event in its' 45th year. The Fund was created in order to provide college education for children of police and firefighters who were killed or disabled in the line of duty. The police department annually sells over 30,000 tickets for this event. The Show and ticket sales are the largest fund raiser for the organization. The Thrill Show provides for displays of Police and Fire Departments equipment and abilities, as well as games, amusements and displays from other outside agencies.

Police-Clergy Program
The Community Relations Unit serves as the liaison between the Police Department and the Clergy Program members. Applicants receive two (2) days of training prior to certification which allows members to assist law enforcement officials in activities involving their communities. At this time, approximately 200 clergy personnel participate in this program.

Drug Abuse Resistance Effort (D.A.R.E.)
The D.A.R.E. program is offered by personnel assigned to the Community Relations Unit. In its' 13th year, the program is presented to 4th and 5th grade students during school instruction. This 17-week program is divided into components which should these students to resist drugs and peer pressure to use illegal substances. Annually, the Philadelphia Police Department reaches over 11,000 students during two (2) semesters of instruction.

Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.)
The G.R.E.A.T. program is offered by personnel assigned to the Community Relations Unit. The program, in its' 7th year, the program is presented 6th and 7th graders in Philadelphia schools. This nine (9) week course of instruction is presented to the students to provide options to gang life, peer pressure and criminal activity. This instruction is re-inforced with a free seven (7) week program during the summer months. The program is offered at six (6) city recreation facilities. The G.R.E.A.T. program also offers a four (4) week introductory program for 3rd and 4th graders. The entire program is funded with a Grant from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and over 6500 young people are reached annually.

Police Explorer Cadet Program
The program is conducted at the Philadelphia Police Academy and is for young adults ages 14 - 20 who are interested in the law enforcement profession. The program provides classroom instruction and hands-on training in law enforcement procedures from local, state, and federal agencies. The Explorer Cadets provides assistance at events for the Police Department, the Fraternal Order of Police, law enforcement oriented and community oriented organizations.

McGruff House Program
The McGruff House Program is a program whereby neighborhood resident volunteers make their house available to children travelling to or from school, and encounter an incident that makes them afraid, injured, or lost. The McGruff house locations, after an intense background screening, are depicted by the placement of a picture of McGruff in the window, made visible to the child. The Philadelphia Police Department has suspended this program due to legal concerns involving the care of the child and volunteer. The Philadelphia Gas Company (P.G.W.) has recently initiated a program similar to the McGruff House Program. This program entitled, " Kidsafe" allows for a child in trouble to approached one of the 1000 vehicles or personnel employed by the Gas Company who are on the street, explain their problem and receive assistance. The "Kidsafe" program in endorsed by both the Police Department and the Philadelphia Department of Recreation.

Police Week
In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a bill into law that made May 15 National Police Memorial Day. The week in which the 15th falls is National Police Week. In order not to coincide, the Philadelphia Police Department, which annually participates in our own Police Week, schedules Philadelphia Police Week activities in one of the other weeks in May. Each year during Police Week, the City Representatives office sponsors the "Living Flame" Memorial service to honor police and firefighters who died in the performance of their duties. Additionally, the Police Department has set aside a date to honor civilian and police personnel who have performed an extraordinary act in the name of law and order. Other activities include: Annual Townwatch Commendations; Police Clergy Ride-alongs; School Presentations announcing Police Week activities and a Vesper Service honoring police officers who have recently received official police department commendations.

Commander's Sports League
The Commander's Sports League was formed to foster good will between the Police Department Command Staff and City Schools. The Community Relations Unit schedules games and coordinates sponsorship of food and "T"-Shirts to be given to the students as part of the program. The Command staff plays the students in either basketball or softball, while providing a anti-drug anti-gang message during breaks in the competition to all participants and spectators. In the six (6) years of operation, the Commander's Sports League has reached over 4500 young people.

Operation Town Watch
The current Town Watch Program began to evolve in April 1994, when meetings began between The Managing Director's Office and the Philadelphia Police Department. At that time, it was decided that the Police Community Relations Unit would serve as the liaison between the two (2) City agencies. The Managing Director's Office provides a Liaison to work directly with the Community Relations Unit. The responsibility of training, equipping and organizing both established and new Townwatch groups is equally shared, as training is provided for new groups and periodic training is provided to re-inforce previous information. The Managing Director's office provides equipment in the form of hats, coats, whistles, flashlights, signs, radio and telephones to be used by members on patrol. At the annual Convention and Luncheon held each May, one (1) Townwatch from each district receives an award for their participation in the program during the past year. The morning segment of this event offers a large variety of workshops relating to Townwatch and Police activities. The City Townwatch Program is heavily involved in the National "Night Out" events each August, which allows the Philadelphia program to gauge how well it compares to other programs in the nation. Currently, the City of Philadelphia's Townwatch program has 514 active groups, and a membership of over 13,305.

Citizen Recognition Awards
Citizen Commendations are awarded bi-annually to citizens who have performed an extraordinary act in the name of law and order. Citizens meeting this criterion are nominated by Police Department Personnel. Persons nominated and approved receive a commendation, suitable for framing, and a replica of the Liberty Bell presented by the Mayor at an official ceremony.

Police Commendations
Police Personnel nominated by their supervisors for acts of Valor, Bravery and Heroism and approved by the "Awards Board, are honored on a bi-annual basis in a formal ceremony. Additionally, these officers are also honored by Lodge #5 of the Fraternal Order of Police. Personnel receiving honors for acts other than meeting qualifications for Valor, Bravery and Heroism receive their award in a district level setting from the officer's commander.

Information listed here is believed to be current at the time of publication. However, some of the material presented here may have expired since it was posted. Persons should contact a Philadelphia Police representative whenever relying on dated material or information that is subject to change.

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