History Law enforcement agencies traditionally have been in place to enforce the laws of the land and maintain order within their separate jurisdictions. Before the advent of the police radio and the patrol car, order was maintained by the presence of law enforcement personnel who closely interacted with the public they worked for - the era of the "beat cop". Law enforcement began to change once police officers were placed inside cars and police radio calls sent officers to investigate reported incidents of trouble. Civil unrest during the 1960s and 70s served to widen the separation between law enforcement officers and the community, creating an "us versus them" mentality. Starting in the 1980s and gaining momentum in the 90s, law enforcement agencies began developing programs designed to bridge the gap between officers and the public. The need for "Community Oriented Policing" had been identified and programs were created across the country to fill this need. One such program the Grover Beach Police Department implemented was the "Citizen Assistance Team" or "C.A.T." The concept for the team had been introduced in the late 1990s with the format for operations and the program's name developed by Detective Mark Penza. Once the program and its goals were identified, it was launched officially in November 1999, just in time for the new Millennium. Program The program consists of members of the community who volunteer their time to primarily patrol the streets of Grover Beach, extending the eyes and ears of sworn uniformed personnel. The presence of these volunteers complements the Department's delivery of services to ensure the safety of our community. Since the program's implementation, C.A.T. has been responsible for several successful arrests and the discovery of a number of crimes. C.A.T. is a welcome addition to the Grover Beach law enforcement family! Qualifications Any qualified volunteer from the community who is willing to donate a minimum of four (4) hours per week to support the Grover Beach Police Department in various assignments. 18 years of age are older Must have a valid California Driver's License Successful Clearance of a Background Investigation (including fingerprint clearance from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations) No physical examination is required Must comply with grooming standards Must be able to attend meetings and trainings Must be willing to serve 4 hours each week Training Completion of the Grover Beach Police Department approved training course will be required before assignment. Training is conducted by law enforcement personnel in a classroom environment. Functions A major activity is citizen patrol, which supplements police operations by assisting officers with tasks that currently take them away from patrol time. C.A.T. also participate throughout the Department, assisting in records, administration, the investigation division, crime prevention, traffic control, transportation, and clerical duties. Assignments are based on the volunteer's abilities and interests. Curb Marking Program With the approval of the Grover Beach City Council, the Citizens Assistance Team began a program in February 2003 that provided Grover Beach residences and businesses with street numbers painted on curbs and berms for easier identification. This is particularly important when emergency personnel are looking for street numbers in the dark or during rainy weather. There is no charge for this service, although donations for supplies will be accepted at Grover Beach City Hall. For questions on this program, or to make a donation, please contact the Grover Beach Police Department at (805) 473-4501 or (805) 473-4511. Contact For further information on the Citizen Assistance Team, contact Corporal Cheryl Locarnini at the Grover Beach Police Department's non-emergency number: (805) 473-4501. You can also check the website created and maintained by members of the CAT team, at Citizen Assistance Team.

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