Citizens Police Academy
Purpose
The Bristol Police Department’s first citizen’s police academy was instituted by Colonel Russell S. Serpa during the Spring of 2005. The purpose of the citizen’s police academy is to give the public a working knowledge of the Bristol Police Department’s policies and procedures through a series of classes instructed by Bristol Police Department personnel. The program is designed to encourage input and feedback from the civilian participants.
Goals
The goals of the academy are to:
- Establish a stronger relationship between the Police Department and the community.
- Provide citizens of Bristol a better understanding of the mission and operations of the department.
Topics
Topics will include:
- Court System
- Crime Scene Investigation
- Department Structure
- Dispatch Operations
- Domestic Violence
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Investigation
- Duties Of the School Resource Officer
- Juvenile Crime
- Narcotics
- Patrol Procedures
- Search Warrants
- Traffic Enforcement
- Use Of Force
To complete an application for the Bristol Police Citizens Academy, click here >
Please complete the form, print, and return to Bristol Police Department, 395 Metacom Avenue.
Youth Academy
Welcome! We are pleased to announce the 6th annual Bristol Police Youth Academy!
- Space is limited to 26 registrants per week. (Two, 1-week camp sessions will run consecutively).
- Session I will take place August 7 – 11, 2023.
- Session II will take place August 14 – 18, 2023.
- This year we will return to a $45.00 registration fee per applicant, though no camper will be denied registration due to an inability to pay. After your registration is confirmed, you will be contacted regarding the payment of the fee. Payment will only be accepted in the form of a check or money order payable to “The Bristol Police Department Youth Leadership Academy”.
Daily hours for each session will be 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
This program will begin after Camp Poppasquaw concludes for the season. There will be no bus transportation offered, so parents will have to arrange for transportation to and from the camp. All camp participants must bring a lunch daily. All participants must bring a water bottle and snacks to eat throughout the day.
Parents: Prior to completing the application, please take into consideration all factors that might affect your child’s non-participation, such as vaccinations, doctor’s appointments, etc. A waiting list will be created once the participation list reaches 26 registrants for each week.
WE ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED IN THE PAST TO RE-APPLY AND ATTEND THIS YEAR’S CAMP.
Camp will run daily, rain or shine on the grounds of The Quinta-Gamelin Recreation Center.
To register, please complete the registration form at the link below:
Session I (August 7 – 11, 2023) Registration:
Session II (August 14 – 18, 2023) Registration:
Community Policing
The Police Department has a few community related programs that provide positive interaction with the town.
BUSINESS DISTRICT PATROL
During the summertime officers are assigned to foot and bike patrol in the downtown business district on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. This area is highly populated during the summer and especially in the month of July.
CAR SEAT CLINIC
Another program that the department employs is the car seat clinic. Bristol police has 3 trained car seat specialists that assist with the proper installation and use of car seats.
NIGHT PATROL COMMANDER
The final component of the community policing that is provided in Bristol is the night patrol commander. This officer is assigned to be the community group contact person, where the officer meets with neighborhood and community groups to discuss contemporary issues in the town.
Elderly Affairs Officer
Detective Adam Clifford is responsible for assisting with elderly affairs concerns.
School Resource Officer
Patrol Officer Keith Medeiros works at Mt. Hope High School as a School Resource Officer (SRO).
RESPONSIBILITIES
The SRO’s primary responsibility is to protect lives and property for the citizens and public school students by enforcing federal, state, and local criminal laws and ordinances, and to assist school officials with the enforcement of school policies and regulations regarding student conduct.
School Resource Officers are not the school disciplinarian, and all School Resource Officers shall refrain entirely from functioning as one. The School Resource Officer is not involved in the enforcement of disciplinary infractions that do not constitute violations of the law.
Tips to Prevent Package Theft
The Bristol Police Department wants to provide helpful information to our residents and visitors in order to protect themselves and their valuables from theft.
We are encouraging residents to take steps to protect their property and deter crime by not presenting crimes of opportunity while out shopping or while at home.
To Reduce Thefts from Vehicles
Close all windows, and lock all doors on your vehicles. Do not leave valuables such as cell phones, GPS devices, loose change, electronics, or gifts, etc. in sight. By removing these items, you’ll dramatically reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of a crime. We also advise against leaving power point chargers, or the GPS mounting device or other electronics attached to the windshield or dashboard because this is a giveaway to would be thieves that there may be something of value in your vehicle. It is also advisable to secure large shopping bags and gifts in the trunk of the car.
To Reduce Thefts from Home
You can take protective measures to protect your home while you are out away from home.
You can also take the following measures to protect your home in your absence:
– Lock all windows and doors.
– Leave exterior lights on, and use timers for interior lighting.
– Have a radio or television on, to give the impression that someone is in the residence.
– If you have an alarm system, activate it while you are out.
– If you are going to be traveling for an extended period of time, consider stopping the delivery of mail and newspapers; additionally the Bristol Police can make frequent checks of your home in your absence. To request checks of your home, please fill out the following form:
Reduce Thefts of Packages
Unfortunately, the theft of packages that have been delivered to homes tends to rise. Large boxes and packages have been stolen in the past when left outside by the delivery personnel. You can prevent this from happening to you by making arrangements with delivery companies to coordinate the arrival of packages.
You can request that a signature is required when the package is delivered, or you can make arrangements to have the package delivered to the company’s retail outlet. Another option, have the package delivered to your place of employment. If you utilize a security camera, position it to capture the front door/porch or areas where your delivery driver usually leaves items. Your security camera should be visible to act as a visual deterrent to would be thieves.
UPS, Fed-Ex and the US Postal Service also offer free apps for your mobile devices. Once you sign up, you can manage your deliveries, track packages, and be notified when the package is going to be delivered. Additionally, in most cases, you can re-direct some shipments in the event that you will not be home when it is scheduled to be delivered. These free apps are available on both the Android and Apple platforms.
Neighborhood Participation
The Bristol Police Department encourages active participation among residents to report suspicious activity when it is occurring. The public is a valuable partner in the prevention and the solving of crime. Therefore please take steps to be observant and contact us when you see something suspicious, such as:- Your neighbor isn’t home, but there is a strange vehicle in the driveway, a strange person is entering the home or is in the yard.- You notice a person enter a yard and remove a package that has recently been delivered by a delivery company. Obtain the license plate and a description of the suspect if possible.- You notice a suspicious vehicle following a delivery vehicle.
Please contact the Bristol Police Department at (401) 253-6900 to report matters that appear out of the ordinary. An officer will respond and investigate your complaint as quickly as possible.
Thank You.