Community & Resources

The Neighborhood Watch program has grown from 2 groups in 2007 to 17 groups and counting. The Community Services Unit trains volunteers to recognize and report suspicious activity in a timely and safe manner in their respective communities. The active involvement of residents helps reduce burglaries and other property crimes, and develops strong relationships between citizens and police.

The School Resource Officer (SRO) program was initiated in the 2008-2009 school year. The primary goal of the SRO is to ensure the safety of our students, administrators, parents and community. The presence of the SRO helps deter illegal and disruptive behavior. One of the most important aspects of the School Resource Officer Program is the development of a strong rapport and relationships between the SRO and students. All four public schools in Foley have an assigned SRO on campus. The SROs are specially trained and selected Foley Police officers.

A formal program where Foley street cops get out of their cars and walk through neighborhoods to meet and greet.

We have two regular sworn Foley Police Officers whose duties as a Code Enforcement Officer includes animal control duties. Though any of our police officers can and do enforce animal control laws within the city at any time of the day or night, it is extremely beneficial to use an actual police officer to specialize in this area. This is especially true when taking enforcement action during the investigation of animal neglect / animal cruelty cases, dog bites, vicious animals, stray dogs, and problematic dog owners etc. The two officers also enforce city ordinances and includes areas like junk and abandoned cars in yards, business license enforcement, and other matters that pertain to city ordinances. They also assist in patrol duties out in our streets.

Foley Police Department Explorer Post 77 is the oldest Explorer program in the state of Alabama. The program is designed to give high school students a chance to see what a career in Law Enforcement would be like. Explorers are allowed to ride with Patrol Officers, and assist with traffic control at various functions such as parades, festivals, football games and the local rodeo. The Explorers sponsor dances at the Middle School and participate in Habitat for Humanity projects. At least four of our explorers have gone on to enter law enforcement in some capacity, but there is no way to accurately account for the good will that this program has produced in the student population and their families.

Foley police officers certified in the installation of various car seats are available, through appointment, to properly instruct new parents and new grandparents on the safe installation of car seats in your vehicle. Call 952-4010 to make an appointment.

The Citizens Police Academy has become one of our most popular Community Oriented Policing programs. The 12-week program provides 16-20 residents at a time the opportunity to experience Law Enforcement from the “other side.” Modules include time spent with the K-9 demo, a Special Response Team demo, a visit from the Sheriff’s Office to discuss Civil Processes, as well as different police instructors along with the DA’s and Judges offices to explain their role in the process. Classes include exposure to traffic stops, polygraph exams, arrest procedures and the ever popular “paperwork.” This program has been extremely popular with our citizens and the police department alike. Two Citizens Police Academies are held during the year.

A partnership between the police department, local businesses and private citizens aimed at reducing crimes by building a database of existing surveillance cameras throughout the city. This allows the police to go back and quickly identify suspects when crime occurs. The police department can see that a crime occurred near certain cameras and then ask the home owner or business owner to check their cameras and see if suspect or vehicle descriptions were caught on tape. This is a great crime fighting partnership.

The Foley Police Department Community Expo is a large-scale quarterly outreach that rotates to various neighborhoods within Foley. The event includes games, food, and booths manned by officers and other police department personnel who explain various functions and resources available within the department. The Expo also provides information regarding resources available in the community. Expo’s may also include Child Fingerprinting, distribution of the Yellow Dot Program packets, K-9 Demos and other activities of interest.

A popular outreach is the Child Fingerprint service offered by the Community Services Unit. This is done at the Expo, but is also frequently done at other community events and commercial locations throughout the year. Kits include a photo and fingerprints of the child that can be used as needed to provide identification for law enforcement or other purposes. The kit includes an 8 x 11 print-out and provides the parents with a CD with all the information on the print-out, as well as a video and audio of the child.

Foley police officers set up a mobile Kiosk that contains handouts, pamphlets, and informational material about different programs and services our department offers to its citizens. The police services kiosk is driven to different locations where the public and community are at. The officer accompanying this kiosk also interacts with the visiting public and talks one-on-one with the citizens about the different programs and answers any police type questions the public may have. This has proven to be a great time of interaction and communication between the police, public, and the community.

Police officials, instructors, and detectives offer a wide range of topics that are taught to the business community, schools, and churches free of charge as a service. These topics range greatly but include and are not limited to school safety, church safety, shoplifting prevention, robbery prevention and safety, counterfeiting, fraud and other similar courses.

Many of our residents are retired and travel extensively. Foley Police Department recognized that anyone who would be gone from home for an extended period of time would appreciate someone checking on their residence in their absence. This program has been very well received, and we have received numerous letters thanking us for going “above and beyond” in providing this service. Procedure: Come to the front window at the Foley Police Department in person with ID showing who you are and the address you are requesting this for. Complete one form and be on your way and we will check your residence while you are gone.

The Yellow Dot Program provides citizens a packet that they can complete and leave in their car with critical instructions that might be needed by Law Enforcement or Emergency Medical Technicians in case of an emergency on the roadway.