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

Specially-trained Abington police officers teach the D.A.R.E. curriculum in all Abington School District facilities as well as five private schools located within the Township. With twenty uniformed officers providing instruction at a dozen area schools, Abington is the only police agency in Pennsylvania that offers D.A.R.E. to 100% of its local elementary, middle, and high school students.

A new initiative is the D.A.R.E. Parent Program, which is now being taught at selected sites. This six-week course teaches mothers and fathers of school age children how to support and supplement the D.A.R.E. training received by their children.

For further information about the Abington Police Department's D.A.R.E. Program, email Community Policing Coordinator Jack Murphy or call 267-537-1071.

Abington Community Task Force - A Community That Cares

The Abington Community Taskforce (ACT) is a coalition of parents and Abington-based educational, religious, social service, recreational, and civic agencies, as well as the Abington Police. Its mission is to create within Abington a responsible, caring, and safe community. ACT also serves as the governing board for Abington's Communities That Care initiative. Abington Township was the first Township in Pennsylvania to be accepted into the Commonwealth's Communities That Care program.

Some of ACT's initiatives include the establishment of programs designed to teach effective parenting skills; the development of peer counseling services; increasing opportunities for safe community activities for young people; and creating programs to increase awareness and respect for diversity within our community.

Abington Police Department Police Athletic League (PAL)

The Abington Police Athletic League (PAL), a non-profit community organization formed in 2001, seeks to prevent juvenile crime and violence while encouraging personal growth among our young people. PAL centers, staffed by APD and community volunteers, offer structured, personal guidance in a safe, friendly environment. PAL offers a wide range of physical and intellectual activities that address the needs of Abington's youth.

Providing positive adult role models is a critical component of our PAL efforts. In Abington, law enforcement officers and community volunteers work with young people to encourage positive development as members of the local community.

While Abington PAL is sponsored through the Abington Township Police Department, PAL receives no direct funding. As such, PAL is dependent on volunteer support from community-minded individuals, business leaders, corporations and foundations.

If you are interested in making a contribution to PAL, serving as a PAL volunteer, or would like further information, please email Community Service Program Manager Mary Carminati or call 267-536-1073.

Youth Aid Panel

Abington's Youth Aid Panel is composed entirely of concerned adult volunteers who are members of the Abington community. Now in its third year, the Youth Aid Panel provides an alternative to the juvenile court system in dealing with first time offenders who commit specified minor violations. The panel works to prevent juvenile offenders from becoming more involved in delinquent activities and also makes the juvenile offender responsible for his/her actions through a specific service to the victim and the community. If you are interested in serving on the Youth Aid Panel, or for more information, email Community Policing Coordinator Jack Murphy or call 267-536-1071.

School Resource Officers

Thanks to the cooperation and commitment of the Abington School District, Abington P.D. has full-time School Resource Officers (SRO's) assigned to both the Abington Junior and Senior High Schools. Our SRO's provide a uniformed police presence, and serve as visible, positive role models for the school population. The addition of the SRO complements the Abington Police Department's commitment to ongoing school-based outreach programs such as D.A.R.E., the Community Partnership of Youth and Adults, and 24 Hour Relay Challenge.

In addition to working with students, faculty, parents, and community groups, SRO's identify and address risk factors that contribute to criminal behavior or substance abuse among Abington students. In addition, the SRO's assist in the planning and implementation of school activities by serving as a link to outside community, civic, and governmental resources. In this manner the APD, School District, students, parents, and community will work in partnership to develop an atmosphere of positive, pro-social behavior.

Working primarily in uniform, the SRO provides a visible symbol that the police and schools are mutually committed to providing a safe learning environment. In addition, the SRO will serve as a liaison between the schools and the police department.

Community Partnership of Youth & Adults (CPYA)

The Community Partnership of Youth and Adults (C.P.Y.A.) works to mobilize interested and responsible citizens of all ages through activities that enhance community spirit. Goals of C.P.Y.A. include fostering inter-generational respect; developing community service projects; offering safe activities for youth; raising individual self-esteem; and building a sense of empowerment through participation in community activities and service projects.

C.P.Y.A. is based at the Abington Junior and Senior High Schools, and is under the supervision of Abington P.D.'s School Resource Officers. Over the years the organization has carried out a number of successful activities, including the annual Rock-a-Thon. In this unique fund-raiser, teams of students keep a decorated rocking chair in motion for twelve consecutive hours.

Kids In Safety Seats (K.I.S.S.)

Is your child protected by a safety seat when traveling in a vehicle? Many deaths and injuries suffered by children could be avoided with the correct use of child safety seats and seat belts. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware they are using safety restraints incorrectly, thereby placing their child at risk needlessly. In fact, studies have shown that four out of five car seats are installed or used incorrectly.

The Abington Township Police Department recently established the Kids in Safety Seats (K.I.S.S.) program. The program is designed to ensure that child safety seats and seat belts are used correctly to prevent injury and save lives. The Police Department's inspection and proper fitting of child safety seats is sponsored by Citizens and Police Together (C.A.P.T.) and is offered free of charge.

For additional information, or to schedule an inspection and fitting, please email Community Service Supervisor Dave Rondinelli or call 267-536-1074.

Safety Seat Recalls

Is your child seat truly safe? You may check for current product recalls by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.