Sir Robert Peel established the first "professional” police force in London more than a century and a half ago.

Sir Robert recognized the critical importance of community involvement in public safety, as he is quoted as saying:

“The police are the public and the public are the police; the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence".

“Community Policing” involves bringing the police officers and the law-abiding citizens of the Town of Leesburg together to find permanent solutions to public safety and crime prevention problems.

The Leesburg Police Citizens Support Team helps bridge the gap between the police and the law-abiding public. Team members are public citizens who assist the police by giving them extra eyes, ears, and hands during times of emergency and during police-sponsored community events such as child car seat installation and school public safety days, bicycle safety training, charity fundraisers, and after-hours athletic activities. Team members similarly assist the public by performing neighborhood patrols and annual street light surveys, performing child DNA collection for parents, and distributing child and adult safety information at school, business, and public municipal events. The Team’s activities and close involvement with the police and the public exemplify the cooperation envisioned by Sir Robert Peel as necessary to deter crime and increase public safety.