Community Presentations

The Community Engagement Unit works to make Cary safe through emphasis on crime prevention. While every officer in the department is involved in this important function, Community Engagement organizes larger public events and informational presentations. Topics of presentations to the community include the Community Watch program, SafeKids, bank safety, bicycle safety, business crime prevention, home security, drug education and seat belt use.

If you are interested in scheduling a community presentation, please follow the Request an Officer link below.

Community Watch

Community Watch is a program that was developed to allow communities to band together to unite against crime. Participants act as the "eyes and ears" of the police and report suspicious activity when they see it.

In 1997, the Department established the Cary Community Watch Association to keep all Community Watch groups in contact with one another. The association consists of members who are involved in leadership of a current community watch, getting ready to begin a community watch, or who just want information on keeping Cary a safe community. For information on how to start a Community Watch program in your neighborhood, call the Community Engagement Unit at (919) 469-4324.

Request an Officer

If you would like to request a police officer for a school talk, community event, HOA meeting or Security Survey, please fill out our Community Service Request Form.

Citizens Assisting Police (CAP) Team

Graduates of our Citizen Police Academy may continue serving the Town of Cary by joining the Department's CAP Team. Since its creation in 2000, the CAP Team has grown from 31 volunteers to approximately 170 members, and is one of three programs in North Carolina recognized by Volunteers in Police Service, a national initiative begun in 2002 as part of the USA Freedom Corps. CAP Team members provide a valuable service to the community by donating thousands of volunteer hours per year; providing assistance at public events, child safety seat installations, performing clerical duties, and promoting Community Watch programs. For more information on the Citizens Police Academy or the CAP Team, please contact academy coordinator Sergeant Dustin Wright at (919) 380-2129.

Community Services Team

Sergeant Dustin Wright
(919) 380-2129

Officer Patrick Fox
(919) 469-4324

The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) conducts follow-up investigations for certain crimes that were initially responded to by our Field Operations Bureau (FOB). Our detectives receive specialized training and are equipped to address all investigative needs in the Town of Cary.

Specialized areas of investigation within CID include:

• Burglary – Residential and Commercial
• Cyber Intelligence
• Drugs and Vice
• Fraud Investigations
• General Investigations
• Major Crimes – Homicide, Robbery, Serious Assaults, Kidnapping
• Motor Vehicle Breaking and Entering
• Special Victims Unit – Domestic Violence, Juvenile Investigations, Sex Crimes, and Elder Abuse

The Cary Police Department is only one of four agencies in the Triangle to have a Cyber Intelligence Unit that proactively pursues online offenders.  Additionally, CID maintains a close working relationship with other local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, as well as with the District Attorney’s Office. 

If you would like to provide information on any crimes, please contact our Communications Center at (919) 469-4012. Callers may request to remain anonymous. You can also provide the information to Cary Crime Stoppers at (919) 460-4636.

What is Crime Stoppers ? 

Cary Crime Stoppers is a community based program where stakeholders such as local businesses, media outlets and Cary Police work together to solve crimes. By partnering with Cary Police Department, Cary Crime Stoppers helps solve crimes by offering reward incentives for crime tip information to anonymous tipsters. If the information leads to the arrest and/or indictment of the criminal(s), a reward may be available, up to $1,500 for certain crimes.

• When you call Crime Stoppers to report information about a crime, you do not have to give your name or phone number and you do not have to appear in court.
• Cary Crime Stoppers does not utilize caller ID on the tip line. You remain anonymous!
• Tipsters are given a confidential ID to utilize when calling Cary Crime Stoppers to inquire about tips you have submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Criminal Investigations Contact

Captain Ronald Casazza
(919) 653-7173

Crisis Negotiation Team 

The Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is designed to assist Field Operations with high-risk calls such as barricaded suspects, hostage situations, suicide attempts and other situations that could enhance the ability to preserve life, maintain social order and ensure the protection of property. Negotiations are designed to slow down the situation, reduce anxiety levels, reduce the threat level, and lead to more rational behavior. The designed function of the team is to persuade hostage takers and other individuals to surrender peacefully to the police.

The Town of Cary Police Department’s Crisis Negotiation Team consists of team members who are assigned other full-time duties but also serve on the Crisis Negotiation Team on a part -time basis. The team is composed of 10 team members, two team leaders, an assistant team commander and a team commander. The team is the only operational team within the Town of Cary Police Department that is composed of sworn and civilian staff.

Promoting Healthy Occupancy through Education, Networking, and Information Exchange

In Cary, we believe community safety is directly tied to how involved citizens are with helping keep it safe. Project PHOENIX brings officers and apartment managers together to share information, review crime trends and develop strategies for solving problems and reducing the fear of crime in and near multifamily housing developments. PHOENIX officers partner with residents and management staff to become involved in community affairs and tailor services to the unique characteristics and needs of the participating properties.

Criteria

To be considered an active partner in Project PHOENIX, the apartment manager and their property must meet and maintain the following requirements:

• The lease must include a Drug and Crime-Free Housing section or addendum
• The property manager must attend the one-day Property Management Workshop
• The property manager must host at least one social event each year
• The property must meet and maintain several Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) requirements, such as:
  • Solid core front door
  • Deadbolt with a minimum one-inch throw
  • Anti-slide and anti-lift devices for sliding glass doors
  • Wide-angle eye-viewers (peepholes)
  • Tree canopies trimmed up to six feet
  • Bushes and shrubs trimmed down to three feet
  • Adequate lighting
  • Adequate signage

PHOENIX officers conduct an initial assessment of the property and provide the property manager with a detailed report outlining which requirements they do and do not meet.  Officers also conduct periodic follow-ups and annual assessments to ensure requirements are continually being met.

Apartment communities that meet these criteria will have a Project PHOENIX liaison officer assigned to their property, and signs can be posted identifying them as an active member.  In addition, property managers receive individualized incident cards informing them of any crimes or events that occurred on or near their property

Property Benefits

• A stable, satisfied tenant base
• Reputation for active management
• Lower maintenance costs
• Increased property value
• Improved personal safety for residents and manager/staff
• Staff workshops

Project PHOENIX Contacts

Sergeant Dustin Wright
(919) 380-2129

Officer Jeff Morgan

The School Resource Team consists of 12 uniformed officers who focus on early intervention in the lives of at-risk youths in middle and high schools within the Town of Cary. School Resource Officers (SROs) receive specialized training and work with school staff on security and safety issues, give classroom presentations on law and crime prevention, and investigate crimes where students are victims or suspects. Although officers are not assigned to elementary schools, SROs may be called on to assist them when issues arise that require police attention.

The goal of the School Resource Team is to organize and participate in a variety of programs designed to empower youth to take charge in situations that could adversely affect them. SROs are also active with the Capital Area Teen Court, which diverts minor offenders away from the juvenile justice system.

Educational and Diversion Programs include:

• Bicycle Rodeo Safety Program 
• Camp Confidence
• Capital Area Teen Court
• Conflict Resolution & Peer Mediation
• Students Against Destructive Decisions ( S.A.D.D. )
• Students Against Violence Everywhere ( S.A.V.E. )

School Resource Team Contact

Sergeant Chris Bernhardt

Sergeant Bradley Evans

Office: (919) 653-7130

Special Operations Administration

Deputy Chief of Operations Shawn Anderson
(919) 460-4901

Captain Ronald Casazza
Criminal Investigations Division
(919) 653-7173

Captain Robert Carey
Animal Services, Community Engagement, PHOENIX, School Resource
(919) 319-4513