Community & Technical Support

The Community & Technical Support (CATS) Division is under the command of Sergeant Jeremiah Johnson.  The officers assigned to the CATS Division work in partnership with the North Platte Community by focusing on problem identification and solving.  By working closely with schools, businesses, organizations, and groups to focus on crime awareness and crime reduction efforts, officers in the CATS Division provide a visible, accessible, and approachable uniformed presence in the community to offer reassurance, defuse situations that hold threats of conflict, improve confidence and trust, gather information and foster positive community relations.

Many “behind the scenes” functions such as planning, research, and training are conducted through the CATS Division along with highly visible activities in the community. Some of the more visible activities associated with the CATS Division include:

D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)

School Resource Officers

Crime Stoppers

Public Information Officer

Project Lifesaver

Police Service Dog

Crime Stoppers

 

Other Public Information and Educational Programs:

  • Bicycle Safety
  • Senior Citizen Crime Prevention Issues
  • Alcohol and Drug Related Programs
  • Responsible Beverage Sales & Service Training
  • Child Safety Seat Installation
  • Employee Theft
  • Financial Institution Alarm Practices
  • Child Fingerprinting
  • The Police Profession
  • Department Tours
  • Computer & Internet Safety

The CATS Division also offers a full complement of classes taught in schools at all grade levels on a variety of safety topics.

Key Accountabilities

  • Maintain a highly visible community presence in accordance with local area needs to address issues of public concern, act as a deterrent to crime, and improve community confidence.
  • Support ongoing police operations undertaking community-based activities.
  • Develop close working relationships with key community groups and individuals, as directed, to gather and provide information, support vulnerable citizens, and promote community cohesion.
  • Develop effective relationships with individuals, including those vulnerable and at-risk, across the community, providing support and guidance to identify root causes, assess needs, prevent crime, respond to concerns, and build trust in policing.
  • Support the identification and exploration of new ways of working and innovation in community policing, and apply critical thinking and problem-solving methodologies to identify solutions to problems in-line with evidence-based practices.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment to have an officer speak to your group or if you have questions on any of these topics, please contact the North Platte Police Department from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, at (308) 535-6789.

Police Service Dog

In addition to CATS Division community education and outreach, we also have a Police Service Dog, Briggs.  Briggs is a male German Shepard who came to the North Platte Police Department from the Netherlands in Europe.  Briggs is a Narcotic Detector Dog that provides assistance and support to other divisions within the North Platte Police Department as well as outside law enforcement agencies.  Briggs is trained to detect the odors of narcotics and narcotic contraband that might be hidden inside packages, vehicles, rooms, and buildings.

The North Platte Police Department has graciously received donations from the community to help contribute to the purchase of Briggs and the equipment needed to train and care for him.  Donations are always welcome.  If you would like to donate to the North Platte Police Department Police Service Dog, please contact the North Platte Police Department from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, at (308) 535-6789.