For nine organizations at Georgia Tech, the relationship with the Georgia Tech Police Department is personal.

By participating in GTPD’s Adopt-A-Cop program, campus organizations are making a direct connection with a knowledgeable resource on safety.

“The biggest goal is to make sure that the community feels safe and secure,” said Officer Jessica Howard, GTPD’s Crime Prevention officer and architect of the Adopt-A-Cop program. “We want groups on campus to have more of a relationship with the police department, and this is a great way to do that.”

As the program’s name implies, campus organizations contact the Crime Prevention program at GTPD and are connected with an officer or investigator with whom they can plan special events, training sessions or educational seminars. The officers have regular interactions with the groups, including attending their meetings and acting as a resource when questions arise.

So far, the following groups on campus have adopted an officer:

• Delta Chi – Officer Patrick Baxter
• Criminal Investigation Division – Jimmy Lummis, Georgia Tech Cybersecurity
• Alpha Gamma Delta - Public Safety Officer Andrea Serrano
• Theta Chi – Officer Phil Bennett
• Alpha Delta Pi – Officer David Augcomfar
• Alpha Chi Omega – Investigator Cassandra Davis
• Family Housing – Sgt. Keith LeCounte
• Phi Gamma Delta – Investigator Gia Lockett-Hart
• Phi Delta Theta – Sgt. Gary Cook

“I like the program,” said Baxter. “I think it is a perfect illustration of our commitment to the Georgia Tech community.”

GTPD has 14 officers still available for adoption. To adopt an officer, contact Howard at Jessica.howard@police.gatech.edu.

“It’s going well,” Howard said. “The student feedback is great; it allows officers to be more involved and it’s continuing to grow.”