"Community has been the backbone of what makes the SVPD different".

The Simi Valley Police Officer's Association begins 2011 with new sense of enthusiasm. We celebrate our 40^th anniversary as a Police Department. The Community Safety Agency was founded on July 1^st 1971 and for those of you that have been around long enough, I am sure you remember the “Blazers” and those first 29 officers that signed up to work the almost rural streets of Simi Valley. A lot has changed in those 40 years, the number of stop lights along the length of Los Angeles Ave, our population has grown, we lost our little airport, we gained a freeway, and our name has changed to the Simi Valley Police Department. The one thing that hasn't changed is the dedication to the community that our officers have to you, the citizen.

Since the very beginning, community has been the backbone of what makes the Simi Valley Police Department different from all of the other agencies in the area. We have locally set goals for reducing crime and with community involvement through activities like Explorer Posts and Citizen Academies.  The creation of the Police Foundation has allowed direct citizen involvement in helping to support the various unfunded needs such as the purchase of our K-9's, and bullet proof ceramic plates for the SWAT team. These community group's through their contributions have, and will continue, to protect the lives of our officers.

As an Association, we have also been deeply involved in the community. Our families live amongst you and are your soccer, football, wrestling, and baseball coaches. They lead Scout troops, they are teachers, mentors, big brothers and cousins to many in our town. Our members have built homes for charity, provide ministries at your churches, and work side by side at food pantries and holiday events with those they are sworn to protect.

Since the founding of the Association, we have donated thousands of dollars a year to youth sports and education programs. I would bet if you looked back on those old Simi Valley Little League photos you would see “sponsored by the Simi Valley POA” on the letter board at your coach's feet.  Many of our officers were born and raised right here in Simi.  Some left for what they thought would be a better life, but they came home to work and protect their families and their friends because of the real quality of life and the sense of community that Simi Valley has to offer.  

We as an association look forward to 2011. With a celebration of our history, it promises to be an exciting year and while we have evolved over the years, our goal remains the same. "To help Simi Valley stay one of the safest cities in the United States by working with you, the citizens of Simi Valley".

Chris Coulter

President SVPOA