Child Safety Seat Inspection/Installation
Despite numerous campaigns to promote the use of safety belts and child safety seats as well as the child occupant protection laws enacted within the state, motor vehicle crashes continue to kill and seriously injure children at an alarming rate. Each year, approximately 1,800 children ages 14 and under are killed as occupants in motor vehicles and more than 280,000 are injured.
Child safety seats, when correctly installed and used, are extremely effective in saving children's lives. Correct installation may reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent for infants. However, they are complicated to install and use, making mistakes extremely common. In fact, studies have found that as many as three out of four child safety seats that are installed are used incorrectly according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Quality of life has always been and continues to be an important issue with the Tallahassee Police Department. Parents strap their children into car seats, unaware that mistakes in the seat's installation put their children in danger. For these reasons, the Tallahassee Police Department has certified officers and civilians trained as Child Safety Seat Technicians. Each Wednesday at 10am, TPD offers courtesy child safety seat checks by appointment. TPD also conducts large-scale child safety seat checkpoints at different locations in the city several times throughout the year.
For further information on this program please call 850-891-4275.
Citizens Advisory Council
Established in 2020, TPD's Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) is part of a holistic effort to expand transparency and strengthen community bonds between residents and officers. The CAC is comprised of 26 residents from all areas of Tallahassee. It serves as a conduit between the department and the community to keep the channels of communication open.
CAC members serve staggered 2-year terms.
CAC meetings are typically held on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Walker-Ford Community Center, 2301 Pasco Street. As meetings are subject to change, please contact Deputy Chief Maurice Holmes (contact info below) to verify dates and times.
If you have questions about the CAC, contact Deputy Chief Holmes at 850-891-4267 or email maurice.holmes@talgov.com.
Meetings are every second Monday.
Apply to be a member of the Citizens Advisory Council
Citizens Police Academy
The Citizens Police Academy (CPA) is an informative learning process that provides an opportunity for citizens to receive 9 weeks of both classroom and field instruction regarding the various responsibilities facing our officers. CPA attendees are also made aware of the procedures and techniques used by officers in a variety of scenarios, together with the rationale and justification in support of those procedures or technique.
Class attendees receive information and instruction on such issues as use of force, defensive tactics, narcotics enforcement, special operations, criminal investigations, crime lab and evidence gathering techniques, demonstrations by the TAC Team and K-9 Unit, and much more. All of this is enhanced by their opportunity to ride along with an officer and engage in target practice with some of the department's specialized weapons.
The academy was formed in June, 1994. Classes are held two times per year, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. Class size is limited to no more than 25 attendees and the fact that we can accommodate only 25% of the applicants is a testament to the success and popularity of the program.
The Fall Program will run September 24 to November 13, 2024.
Program Information
Class attendees receive information and instruction on such issues as use of force, defensive tactics, special operations, criminal investigations, crime lab and evidence gathering techniques, demonstrations by the TAC Team and K-9 Unit, and much more. All of this is enhanced by their opportunity to ride along with an officer.
Applicants:
- Adults must be at least 18 years of age
- Must provide the information necessary for a criminal background check
- Must work or live in the Tallahassee/Leon County area
- Be able to commit to attending all classes during the 9-week class period
- There is no charge to participate in the academy
For more information, E-mail Officer Henni Hamby or call 850-901-7390.
Apply Online or Download the Application (PDF)
Community Relations Unit
Promoting crime prevention and community policing are the primary goals of the group of certified Crime Prevention Practitioners that make up TPD's Community Relations Unit. Officers establish partnerships with neighborhood associations and crime watch groups throughout the city and coordinate specialized programs as Crime Stoppers, the RAD and RadKIDS Self-Empowerment Safety programs. Additionally, the practitioners teach crime reduction and personal safety seminars as well as target hardening strategies to citizens and community organizations.
In addition to offering business and residential security surveys, Community Relations officers conduct CPTED studies. CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) is a comprehensive review of pre-construction projects and existing structures to identify environmental improvements that would serve to reduce crime victimization. Environmental enhancements may include alterations to lighting, landscaping, window configurations or entry-way designs.
For more information, please contact us via email, or call us at 850-891-4251.
Programs
See more crime prevention tips here.
Community Oriented Policing & Problem Solving
COPPS represents the core philosophy of the police response to problems within neighborhoods. It has, and continues to, increase the working partnership with citizens, businesses and civic groups to help solve problems that affect our quality of life in Tallahassee.
While the COPPS philosophy is used by all TPD officers, calls for service sometimes limit their ability to stay with an issue until resolution. That is why there are squads designated for this mission full time. These squads help other officers with long-term follow-up and can assist with increased enforcement, as well as other aspects of problem solving.
COPPS Officers accept a flexible schedule to be able to rapidly respond to unique neighborhood issues throughout the City. They are most frequently recognized by their specially outfitted police mountain bikes and unique police uniforms. Working closely in the community, away from their cars, they can build stronger bonds with the citizens and increase their effectiveness and cooperation.
RAD
The Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D) System is a 12 hour program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women. The R.A.D. System is a comprehensive, women-only course that begins with awareness, prevention, risk reduction and risk avoidance, while progressing on to the basics of hands-on defense training. The course includes lecture, discussion and self-defense techniques suitable for women of all ages and abilities. Our courses are taught by nationally certified R.A.D. Instructors and we provide each student with a workbook/reference manual.
The R.A.D class is offered at no charge by the Tallahassee Police Department. Those who sign up must be a minimum of 12 years of age or older. You must commit to attending all scheduled days per program date to complete the course. Each class is limited, so register now and bring a family member or friend!
All classes will be taught at the Lincoln Neighborhood Center, 438 West Brevard Street Tallahassee, FL 32301.
2025 R.A.D Class Schedule
- Class #1: Jan 28th, 30th, Feb 4th & 6th (5:30pm-8:30pm)
- Class #2: April 15th, 17th (5:30pm-8:30pm) & 19th (9:00am -3:30pm)
- Class #3: July 15th, 17th, 22nd & 24th (5:30pm-8:30pm)
- Class #4: August 20th, & 21st (5:30pm-8:30pm) & 23rd (9:00am -3:30pm)
- Class #5: November 12th, 13th, 19th & 20th (5:30pm-8:30pm)
**You must attend all dates within each class session to complete the course**
To Register
- Email Lieutenant Maria Mercurio (R.A.D. Coordinator),
OR call the Tallahassee Police Department's Crime Prevention Unit at 850-891-4251.
- Please provide your name, email, and which class number you wish to attend.
Victim Advocacy
The Tallahassee Police Department's Victim Advocate Unit was established in 1992 to provide immediate assistance to victims of crime as well as their families. The Victim Advocate Unit is committed to providing comprehensive services and support that address the physical and emotional needs that result from victimization. An advocate has the unique ability of being able to devote attention to the various needs of the victim while at the same time acting as a liaison with officers to keep the victim and their family informed on how the criminal case is progressing. The unit is staffed with four advocates who provide 24-hour assistance. Services provided by the unit include:
- On scene crisis intervention and bereavement support
- Liaison between victims, Investigators, and other community based agencies
- Referrals to professional counseling and support groups
- Community information and referrals
- Support throughout the criminal justice system by providing court advocacy, accompaniment, and transportation when needed
- Assistance with application for Victim Compensation, emergency Protective Orders (Injunctions), and safety planning
- Education for law enforcement and the community on new laws pertaining to victimization and trauma
- Inform victims of their rights under the law
The Victim Advocate Unit of the Tallahassee Police Department is the first source of help and information for victims of crime. Navigating the criminal justice system is not an easy task. It is our goal to ensure that the best possible service is provided during this difficult time. It is also our goal to ensure that victims of crime understand that they have rights too.
Florida Statute 960 is the crime victim's bill of rights. The statute is intended to establish guidelines for the fair treatment of victims and witnesses in the criminal justice system. Victims, including next of kin, have the right to be informed, to be present, and to be heard when relevant at all crucial stages of a criminal proceeding, to the extent that it does not interfere with the rights of the accused.
For more information about your Victim Rights, please download our Victim Right's Pamphlet (PDF)
It is not necessary to file a police report in order to speak with a victim advocate. If you have any questions about the Victim Advocate Unit or would like to speak with an advocate please call any of the following individuals.
- Fawn Bascom, Victim Advocate Supervisor 891-4432
- Annalise Spotts 891-4265
- Dana Milton 891-4571
- Britney Noyes 891-4742
Important Resources for Crime Victims