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HCSO Community Services
The Community Services Division of the Hays County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is commanded by Lt. Clint Pulpan and consists of Community Outreach, Public Information Officers (PIOs), and Animal Control.
Contact:
512-393-7877
Email: Clint Pulpan
Community Outreach
Within Community Services is the HCSO Community Outreach Division, which is responsible for special programs and events. Sheriff's employees from this division are available to speak or give a presentation to your organization. They routinely talk to school groups, civic clubs and nonprofits.
These are the outreach programs managed by this division; descriptions of each program are listed below.
Brown Santa
Brown Santa is an annual event coordinated by Hays County Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach to collect toys, food, and funds for families of Hays County that are in need. The assistance of deputies, correction officers, dispatchers, and the community touches the lives of hundreds of families. The program is similar to the city police department Blue Santa programs; brown color is the historical uniform color of most Texas sheriff’s offices. Brown Santa operations begin in late October or early November, and culminate in the delivery of Christmas presents and food just prior to Christmas. If you wish to volunteer, donate or would like more information, call 512-393-7373.
Sheriff’s Citizens Academy
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Academy is a 36-hour program designed to give the citizens of Hays County a working knowledge of the Hays County Sheriff’s Office and the criminal justice system. This free program includes 12 weeks of instruction by Hays County Sheriff’s Office staff and other guest speakers. Classes are held on Thursdays from 6-9 p.m. at the Public Safety Building located at 810 S. Stagecoach Trail. in San Marcos, directly behind the Government Center.
The objective of the Citizens Academy is to build a better understanding between citizens and the Sheriff’s Office through education. The academy will help increase public awareness and increase Sheriff’s Office and community relations and rapport. Consequently, the Sheriff’s Office becomes aware of the feelings and concerns of the community from the participants through interaction. Topics presented during the Citizens Academy include Patrol Operations, Jail Operations, 9-1-1 Dispatch, Use of Force, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Crisis Negotiations, Mental Health, Criminal Investigations, and more.
Students can connect with instructors and staff, and share their experiences. Our law enforcement officers and students gain a better understanding of the needs, wants, and realities of the criminal justice system and the communities we serve. Applications may be obtained in person at the Public Safety Building or by emailing
Deputy Mark Andrews.
Junior Deputy Academy
This is a three-day academy for middle-school aged students that takes place during the summer. Cadets will be introduced to various functions of Law Enforcement including Patrol, SWAT, Crisis Negotiation, Criminal Investigations, Crime Scene, K9 Unit, and Motors. Other agencies frequently participate including fire department and EMS departments as well as Texas Dept. of Public Safety troopers. For more information, please contact
Deputy Mark Andrews
or
Deputy Alyssa Marley. When applications are open, we will include the link on this page and on our social media pages.
National Night Out
National Night Out (NNO) is a community-police awareness-raising event held the first Tuesday of October in Texas. (In other parts of the country NNO is held in August). The event has been held annually since 1984 and is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch in the United States and Canada.
The event is meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town watch/Neighborhood Watch, and other anti-crime efforts. Initially communities held lights-on vigils. Now, many communities hold block parties, festivals, and other events to help bring neighbors together.
National Night Out, ‘America’s Night Out Against Crime,’ was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) in 1984. The program was the brainchild of NATW Executive Director Matt A. Peskin. In an effort to heighten awareness and strengthen participation in local anticrime efforts, Peskin felt that a high-profile, high-impact type of crime prevention event was needed nationally. At that time, he noted that in a typical ‘crime watch community’, only 5-7% of the residents were participating actively.
Due to the growth and success of these programs, he felt this percentage was too low. Subsequently, he proposed a national program which would be coordinated by local crime prevention agencies and organizations – but that would involve entire communities at one time.
The first National Night Out was introduced early in 1984 – with the event culminating on the first Tuesday in August. That first year, 400 communities in 23 states participated. Nationwide, 2.5 million Americans took part in 1984. The seed was planted, and participation grew steadily. National Night Out in Texas is conducted every October. Contact HCSO Community Outreach at 512-393-7373 for more information.
Sunshine Kids
Each year the Hays County Sheriff's Office helps support the Sunshine Kids program. From fundraisers throughout the spring to helping while the children visit the area, HCSO staff take pride in being an integral part of the children's journey.
The Sunshine Kids Foundation was founded by Rhoda Tomasco in 1982 while she was serving as a volunteer in the pediatric cancer unit of a hospital in Houston, Texas. After seeing the loneliness and depression among children during their extended hospital treatments, Rhoda had a vision to provide these young cancer patients with opportunities to participate in positive group activities which promoted self-esteem, personal accomplishment, and just plain old fashioned fun!
Today, that vision has been realized many times over, as thousands of children from hospitals across the country have reaped the benefits of The Sunshine Kids Foundation’s many programs including national and regional events. Funded by personal contributions, corporations, and foundations, the Sunshine Kids continues, as it has since its inception, to provide all of its activities completely free of charge to the children and their families.
The Sunshine Kids Foundation adds quality of life to children with cancer by providing them with exciting, positive group activities, so they may once again do what kids are meant to do . . . have fun and celebrate life! Check out their website.
Public Information
Deputies within Hays County Sheriff's Office Community Services Division serve as Public Information Officers (PIOs). Their responsibilities include keeping the public and the media informed with important, timely and useful information from the HCSO using social media and traditional news releases. PIOs provide details various types of incidents including major accidents, patrol incidents, SWAT response, weather hazards and more. They also function as media liaisons to share critical information that can then be disseminated to the general public. Need to contact a Hays County Sheriff's Office PIO? Send an
email
or call 512-393-7373.
Animal Control
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Animal Control Division strives to ensure the safety of its residents and visitors and the humane treatment of all animals in Hays County.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Division patrols more than 680 square miles, except for the incorporated areas of the cities of San Marcos, Kyle, and Buda. Current hours of operation are 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. Read more about this division on the
animal control webpage.
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