Crime Prevention and the Adopt a Cop Program
The Adopt A Cop program (AACP) is one of our most popular and longstanding programs dating back to its inception in 1985. It was originally developed as a means to establish a rapport between police officers and primary school children. However, its popularity over time meant that in some cases it expanded to include TAFE colleges, special schools, high schools, pre-schools, kindergartens, hospitals and retirement villages.
The AACP aims are similar today with the addition of the program now being seen as the primary focal point of the police service in the education of students in the primary school community.
As the name suggests, a school adopts a police officer by means of a ceremony usually held at a school assembly. An oath of adoption is taken by the police officer to agree to assist students at the nominated school. A certificate of adoption is then presented to the Adopt A Cop and the school principal.
The AACP operates on a voluntary basis with police officers visiting schools on a regular basis in conjunction with their normal policing responsibilities and duties.
Generally Adopt A Cops engage in such activities as giving presentations to the students to educate them on important issues, or attending events such as fetes, sporting activities and school camps. This involvement gives the Adopt A Cop the opportunity to act as a visible role model and to develop a rapport with the students.
The AACP is centrally coordinated from the Crime Prevention Unit. For more information on this program, contact the AACP State Coordinator on 3234 2117.
Last Updated: 09/12/2005