Community Oriented Policing Unit

The Community Oriented Policing Unit (COPS) Unit has the responsibility to assist the Henry County Police Department and law enforcement officers implement and enhance community policing. Community policing requires police and citizens to join together as partners in the course of both identifying and effectively addressing issues.

The core elements of community policing are described below:

Organizational Elements:

1. Philosophy Adopted Organization-Wide
2. Decentralized Decision-Making and Accountability
3. Fixed Geographic Accountability and Generalist Responsibilities
4. Utilization of Volunteer Resources
5. Enhancers

Tactical Elements:

1. Enforcement of Laws
2. Proactive, Crime Prevention Oriented
3. Problem-solving

External Elements:

1. Public Involvement in Community Partnerships
2. Government and Other Agency Partnerships

The Henry County COPS Unit along with agencies across America and the world sponsor the National Night Out event once a year. National Night Out is an event held by local communities to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for the anti-crime programs, strengthen the neighborhood spirit and community- police partnership. National Night Out has proven to be an effective, inexpensive and enjoyable program to promote neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships in our fight for a safer nation.

The Henry County COPS Unit sponsors the following programs:

• Women’s Self Defense
• Citizens Police Academy
• Neighborhood Watch Program
• Robbery Preventions Tips
• Burglary Prevention Tips
• Elderly Safety Tips