September 9, 2014 - The Houston Police Department (HPD) invites Houston area high school students to apply for the 2014-2015 Youth Police Advisory Council (YPAC).

Students will address issues affecting youth and the community, participate in community service projects and attend youth leadership conferences throughout the state.  Additionally, the YPAC meets regularly with Chief of Police Charles A. McClelland, Jr. and other top HPD officials to discuss the most prevalent issues facing teens such as bullying, sexting, teen dating violence, peer pressure to join gangs and sex/human trafficking.  Photos of YPAC students interacting with Chief McClelland are attached to this news release.  (NOTE: Media requesting these photos with higher resolution can contact a public information officer).

YPAC members are required to meet five times during the school year at HPD Headquarters at 1200 Travis in downtown Houston.  Meetings are live-blogged on the HPD YPAC Tumblr page at https://houstonpolicedept.tumblr.com and citizens can also read past meeting blogs on that link.

YPAC fosters communication and trust between the HPD and area youth.  Since 1997, the council has provided a forum where a diverse, volunteer group of high school teens meet with the Chief of Police, other police officials, and adult mentors to share and discuss issues of importance to Houston's youth, with an emphasis on law enforcement topics.  Council members are asked to share their experiences with fellow teens and their communities. 

Applications for YPAC are available online at www.houstontx.gov/police/vip/images/ypac-app.pdf.  The deadline for submitting an application is Wednesday, October 1.

For more information, visit www.houstontx.gov/police/vip/ypac.htm, email rhonda.collins-byrd@houstonpolice.org or call 713-308-3200.