Community Involvement

In the City of North Port, we promote citizen engagement whether our citizens attend one of our community conversation meetings or our National Night Out event. North Port is a City where you can “Achieve Anything.” This is greatly due to our citizen’s willingness to team up with our Department and become involved with each other. We like to refer to it as “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” We welcome you to join us in making North Port the greatest place to live in the State of Florida by participating in one of our many Community programs that enhance the quality of life for all age groups.

Since 2015, tips through social media alone have resulted in more than six dozen cases being resolved. All possible with the help of those in the community who care about keeping North Port as safe as possible. Thank you!

Explorer Program

The leaders of tomorrow, assisting law enforcement today.

The Mission Statement

The mission of the North Port Police Department Explorer Post 94 is to provide a positive relationship between Police Officers and Youth who wish to learn about a career in Law Enforcement. The North Port Police Explorers will not discriminate against any race, creed religion or gender. The Police Explorers will be required to be upstanding citizens within the community who maintain good grades, complete community volunteer hours, and have a desire to enter into law enforcement as a career.

Activities

Community Service
As part of the commitment to the community, the Police Explorer must take part in our community service program. The explorers volunteer at over 20 city events throughout the year.

Law Studies
The Explorer program during classroom instruction learns about Florida State Criminal and Traffic Laws.

Training
Explorers learn how to investigate crimes such as car crashes, traffic stops, search and arrests, building searches, First Aid/CPR, domestic crisis intervention, and in-progress calls for service. The explorer is also exposed to Taser and OC spray training.

Honor Guard
We have our own Honor Guard team that participates in City Events throughout the year. As future Police Officers, we learn that it is an honor to serve our country and presenting our Nation's Flag.

Ride Along Program
The Ride Along Program provides the Explorer (after becoming ride-a-long certified) with firsthand knowledge of basic police procedures, by supplementing classroom training through observation and communication with police officers and civilian employees during their performances of patrol functions.

Membership Requirements

  • Be at least (14) years of age and not over (20) at the time of becoming a member.
  • Must Maintain at least a “C” average and be enrolled in an accredited education institution until high school graduation or equivalent thereof.
  • Each new explorer will have to pass a selection process which will include an oral interview and a background investigation.
  • Once the prospective Explorer has turned in an application, the prospective explorer will go before an oral board consisting of advisers and post officers. At that time a vote into membership will be taken.
  • The explorer will be on probation for a period of 90 days upon successful completion of testing requirements.
  • The explorer post meets once a week for 3 hours and each explorer explorer is required to maintain a high attendance rating.

Interested?

Complete the Explorer Application(PDF, 405KB) and send it to post adviser Sergeant Anwar Allen. You can also contact him with any questions before applying at aallen@northportpdfl.gov or (941) 429-7426.

HEARTS Program

Helping
Ensure
Active
Response by
Telephoning
Seniors

The HEARTS Program was initiated by the North Port Police Department to help ensure the welfare of our senior citizens.

The program is intended for seniors age 60 and over who may live alone, be disabled, have little or no contact with others on a daily basis, or may have a medical condition that makes them vulnerable.

The HEARTS Program utilizes trained volunteers to place wellbeing calls to seniors daily. Calls are made Monday through Sunday between the hours of 7 am and 8 am. If the call recipient does not answer the phone, volunteers are trained to take necessary steps, which may include contacting a list of emergency contacts or dispatching emergency personnel. Program participants must be a North Port resident and complete an application (see bottom of page).

Participants may be referred by family, friends, social workers, discharge planners, clergy and other organizations serving the needs of the elderly. Target participants include those who may not have local friends or family, who may not be able to get out of the house easily or those who could benefit from knowing that someone in the community cares about their wellbeing.

In addition to program participants, volunteers are needed to place calls. Applications may be found at the bottom of this page.

Program Guidelines

Our goal is to utilize volunteers to place a wellbeing call Monday through Sunday to program participants to ensure they are okay.

Who Can Participate

  • Seniors ages 60 and over
  • Must live in the City of North Port
  • Seniors who may live alone, disabled, have little or no social contact with others on a daily basis or may have a medical condition that may make them vulnerable.

The North Port Police Department is concerned with the safety and welfare of all of our citizens and especially those who are in need of a little extra care and attention….our senior citizens. Seniors are valuable to us and our city! We welcome any and all questions about the program. Feel free to contact the program coordinator Mandy Lorenz at (941) 429-7341.

City of North Port Volunteer Program

Thank you for your interest in joining the City of North Port Volunteer Program. The City of North Port is now accepting applications from citizens willing to volunteer their time and expertise to support our community. The City of North Port has benefited from the vast knowledge, experience, and willingness to serve from citizens like yourself.

Volunteers aid in the overall efficiency of our departments. With greater demands placed today, volunteers are absolutely vital to ensure that our departments have the time to focus on their key tasks. Volunteers are not utilized to replace personnel or other paid positions within the City of North Port, but rather to enhance the efficiency of the departments. As a result, this maximizes the effectiveness of personnel.

The City of North Port values our volunteers and is very appreciative of their skills and commitment to the community. Just a few hours a week can make a BIG difference. Put your skills and life experiences to work for your community and come join our team.

Volunteers are utilized in the areas of:

  • Records - for filing and data entry
  • Public Relations - fingerprinting, greeting the public, answering telephones, and directing visitors
  • Volunteer Program Coordinators - are selected from within and work hand-in-hand with the Volunteer Services Coordinator.

and MANY MORE!!! There is a special need for all those who take the time to volunteer.

Volunteer Service Aides

The City of North Port now has a team of Volunteer Service Aides who help with everything from traffic control to community outreach. The program continues to grow with more than two-dozen members today.

Why Volunteer?

There are many reasons to volunteer and just as many personal benefits to be gained by volunteer service. Some of the highlights are an excellent opportunity to learn about your City and to see its implementation in our community first hand, an opportunity to give back to and improve your community, to develop job skills and experience, and to actively help your City departments. This program is open to those who wish to become involved in the community. Furthermore, the program is an excellent way to tap the unlimited resources of our retired citizens in the community. Anyone who feels that they have something to offer this program is encouraged to apply.

Who is Qualified?

  • Men and women 18 year of age or older
  • Applicants who possess either a High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
  • Candidates who successfully meet the selection criteria of the North Port Police Department's Volunteer application process including a background investigation

Ok... I'm interested. Now what do I do?

All Applicants will be required to complete an application, interview process and a background investigation before being considered for service. If approved for service, the volunteer will be photographed, fingerprinted, and given an identification card. We hope you will be interested in this worthwhile program. Together we can make a difference.

After successfully completing the application process, the volunteer will be properly trained for their assigned position. Each volunteer will be issued a uniform and City identification badge and must comply with all the City of North Port personnel rules and regulations.

Volunteer Program Application(DOCX, 182KB)

For additional information contact the Volunteer coordinator, Susan Wagner at (941) 429-7403 or email at swagner@northportpdfl.gov

Volunteer of the Year

Our 2020 Volunteer of the Year - Larry Burns

Our 2019 Volunteer of the Year - Mark Rizzo

Our 2018 Volunteer of the Year - Julia Lozano

Our 2017 Volunteer of the Year - Adam Mandel

Citizens Public Safety Academy

The Citizens Public Safety Academy is a 13 week program to allow community members insight into the workings of the North Port Police Department and North Port Fire Rescue. During the CPSA experience, participants will learn about and participate in training, Investigations, fire safety, CPR, firearms, TASER, defensive tactics, fire extinguisher use and fire apparatus deployment.

In addition:

  • Drone Training
  • K9 experience
  • Community Policing
  • City Manager meet and greet
  • Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Vega meet and greet
  • State Attorney Ed Brodsky meet and greet
  • NPPD Special Response Team Unit & Bearcat experience

To apply to the Citizens Public Safety Academy, please complete this form(PDF, 206KB) and return to the City of North Port Police Station located at 4980 City Hall Boulevard, North Port, FL 34286. You can also call Ivette Barnes at 941-429-7339 or email ibarnes@northportpdfl.gov for questions or to submit forms online.

Project Lifesaver

project lifesaver logoThe primary mission of Project Lifesaver is to provide a timely response to help save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children with the propensity to wander due to a cognitive condition. On average, our agency works a missing person case every two weeks.

The bracelets or necklaces will be available for those residents who meet the criteria for FREE. NPPD staff has received training on how to use the radio frequency based tracking system.

If you or someone you know needs this valuable resource, please contact NPPD by calling (941) 429-7300.

Do the Right Thing Program, Inc.

Do the Right Thing of North Port, Inc. is a combined effort of the North Port Police Department, City of North Port and the Kiwanis Club, along with corporate sponsors, to honor youth in our community, on monthly basis, who distinguish themselves by their exemplary behavior. Fill out a nomination form(DOC, 243KB) and return it to the School Resource Officer, or mail it to the North Port Police Department at 4980 City Hall Boulevard, North Port, FL 34286.

Back to top