Southlake's public safety leadership organizes a series of opportunities for residents to get involved in the well-being of their city that stem from a 10-week training program held each fall.

Southlake Community Initiatives Officer Renni Burt said the once-a-year Department of Public Safety Citizens Academy trains residents on core functions. After residents finish the academy, the Southlake Police Department Volunteer program offers them opportunities to get involved in programs such as Citizens On Patrol, Volunteers in Policing, DPS Chaplains, Fire Rehab and Southlake Mounted Patrol, Burt said.

Citizens On Patrol is a group of about 30 members, Burt said, who act as extra eyes and ears for the department for a variety of applications, from parking lot security to assisting officers at crash scenes.

Volunteers in Policing handle volunteer tasks within the office structure of the department, she said, and provide office support.

There is also the DPS Chaplains group on call to provide their specialized services as chaplains in the event of tragedy or other need, Burt said.

The Southlake Mounted Patrol, which Burt said is a fairly unique opportunity in Southlake, is made up of horse owners who ride trails and patrol the area on horseback.

Fire Rehab also stems from the annual academy and provides on-site service out of a converted ambulance to assist firefighters at active incident scenes.

"If there is a structure fire and our guys are going to be out there for a period of time, they will send a text to rehab members on call who will come to the DPS West Station, pick up the vehicle, load it with ice, snacks and drinks, and go to the fire scene," Burt said. "They assist with rehab with cooling chairs, fans and drinks."