Community Resources

Burlington Township Police Department has always had a close relationship with the community we serve. Throughout the 60-year history of our police department, the importance of community relations and working with our citizens to resolve their problems has been continuously stressed and remains our department’s philosophy today. Our officers have the responsibility of addressing quality of life issues in the patrol zones they are assigned while working with our community’s residents to continually improve upon the quality of life in Burlington Township. In addition, the Community Resource Unit is responsible to maintain and monitor the following community programs:

Neighborhood Watch Program: This program fosters cooperation between the officers and residents of Burlington Township allowing our department to address specific neighborhood issues.

National Night Out: Our department participates annually in National Night Out, which draws approximately 200-300 residents annually to our municipal building to view static displays and participate in family events.

Community Day: This event is sponsored by the police department and is held in a large Green Acres municipal park where community businesses, civic organizations, and municipal agencies provide static displays, informational material, children’s rides and games, free food, and music. This event is attended by several thousand residents annually.

DARE Program: Our department sponsors a Drug Awareness Resistance Education program annually for 3rd and 5th grade students at our public schools and for one (1) private school in a neighboring municipality.

Adopt-A-Cop Program: Fifteen (15) police officers from our department volunteer annually to adopt a 2nd grade class. The officers make approximately five (5) visits to the classroom throughout the school year to discuss child safety issues. At the end of the school year, the 15 2nd grade classes are transported to our police department for a tour of our police headquarters, followed by a picnic in the Green Acres Park behind our police department.

Police Explorers: Burlington Township Police Department has proudly sponsored and assigned a police officer as an advisor of the Police Explorer program for 24 years. Police Explorers are a branch of the Boy Scouts of America, which is designed for young men and women who have an interest in law enforcement.

Burlington Township High School Police Internship Program: Our Community Resource Officer worked with the high school guidance department to develop a curriculum for high school students to obtain three (3) credits for participating in the Burlington Township High School Police Internship Program. This program is designed for young men and women who have an interest in pursuing law enforcement as a career.

College Internship Program: Our police department annually interviews college students pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice who are required to complete an internship to graduate. Those who are successful are accepted into our college internship program that is overseen and administered by our Community Resource Officer.

Home Security Surveys: Our Community Resource Officer provides free inspections and recommendations to improve the security of residential homes in our township.

Business Security Surveys: Our Community Resource Officer provides free inspections and recommendations to improve the security of business in our township.

Kids Safety Camp: Our department works with the Burlington Township Fire Department to sponsor a Kids Safety Camp annually promoting safety. This one-week camp is held at a local firehouse and teaches safety measures to 5th and 6th grade students who have an interest in firefighting.

Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT): Burlington Township Police Department sponsors a DVRT in conjunction with the Burlington City and Florence Township Police Department. This dedicated group of volunteers responds to the police department to assist victims of domestic violence during a trying and difficult time in their lives.

Senior Citizen CARE Program: Members of the Burlington Township Senior Citizen’s Club and other seniors who have signed up for this program are contacted to check on their well-being whenever the temperature exceeds 90˚ for three (3) consecutive days or the wind chill factor is below 10˚ for three (3) consecutive days.

Burlington Township High School Youth Stat Program: Our department is currently working and supporting Burlington Township High School officials in identifying students who are at risk of developing academic or social problems. Police officers, along with teachers, have volunteered to help mentor these students, many who come from a one (1) parent household.

Shredding event: Our Community Resource Officer, in an attempt to combat identity theft, arranged for our department to conduct a shredding program annually. This past September, over 200 residents shredded approximately seven (7) tons of personal documents.

Community Outreach Program (COP): Our department initiated a program to alert our residents and business of suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. Bulletins are sent over the Internet to a resident’s e-mail address to be alert and report any information that might assist the police department in solving crimes.

To receive more information on any of these programs, please contact our Community Resource Officer David Edwards at 609-239-5866 or dedwards34@burltwppd.com