Richard Froese
South Peace News
High Prairie RCMP are getting support to curb crime and help officers catch criminals as Citizens on Patrol was resurrected after many years of being inactive.
High Prairie Citizens on Patrol Association (HPCOPA) was officially incorporated Dec. 7, 2023, says RCMP Sgt. Jason Barber.
“It restarted after several business operators were frustrated by growing concerns of transient people causing havoc around businesses and the community,” Barber says.
Serving the enter detachment service area, COP has been a powerful resource, HPCOPA secretary-treasurer Tammy Kaleta says.
“HPCOPA has been very effective by providing eyes and ears for the RCMP,” Kaleta says.
“Who knows how much worse off the community would be if our presence wasn’t out there right now?”
COP volunteers have observed a variety of criminal and suspicious activity.
“We have witnessed break-and-enters and found stolen property, by which the RCMP was able to make arrests,” Kaleta says.
HPCOPA served the region from 2005-07 and was effective back then to curb crime, she adds.
“With the success we experienced in the reduction of crime then, it was natural to establish the group again,” Kaleta says.
COP is seeking more members and volunteers. HPCOPA continues to recruit members 18 years of age and older who have a clean criminal record. Volunteers are required to work in pairs.
Alberta Citizens on Patrol focuses on building safer communities by mobilizing citizens to participate in a community-based crime-prevention initiative in co-operation with local law enforcement agencies.
The organization is designed to:
-Increase citizen participation in observing and reporting suspicious and criminal activity in the community.
-Reduce incidents of crime such as theft from motor vehicles, break- and-enters, vandalism and impaired driving.
-Assist local police when needed.
-Be actively involved in the community and community events.
-Help make the community safer.
As well, COP volunteers listen to what is going on. If something appears to criminal or suspicious, the volunteer notifies local police and reports what is being observed.
People in the community know who belongs there and can recognize when something is taking place that is questionable.
Local police cannot be everywhere.
COP are trained in what they can do, what they cannot do and what should be reported.
Volunteers use their own vehicle while patrolling in pairs, never alone. They are covered by liability insurance through the local COP group.
All COP groups work with an assigned RCMP liaison officer who attends COP meetings, assists with training and advises the COP volunteers on community safety concerns.
RCMP members work with COP groups to ensure that volunteers receive the training that is needed in order to patrol safely in the community.
For more information on High Prairie COP, e-mail to highprairiecop @gmail.com.