Times Advocate, 1998-06-10, Page 13t} -qtr;'xtt•^o-xY, rkwMtlivii 01 rsr +illi
Second Section -
Volunteering to make Exeter a safer place
if you are interested in volunteering for a C.b.P. Program in your commu-
nity, call Liam Brennan at (519) 235-1300.
C.O.P. FACTS
• Citizen's On Patrol (C.O.P.) is a mobile watch program
comprised of ordinary citizens
• C.O.P. teams which cassia of two volunteers are supplied
with a kit bag Including a cell phone, Patrol Log Book,
binoculars, floodlight, and police scanner to assist them in
their patrol
• C.O.P. teams assist the police by patrol the town and
observing and detailing any suspicious or criminal activity
• Volunteers are never required to make an arrest or to
intercept anyone
• The aim of the program is to deter and reduce criminal
activity and undesirable adolescent behavior
• Bayfleld is the only other Huron county municipality with
a similar program; called BM 11/ (Bayfleld Mobile Watch)
the program has been run ling for three years and has
about 30 volunteers
• in Exeter, C.O.P. Is staffed by 60 volunteers
-By Katherine /larding
T -A Reporter
EXETER - Exeter. residents can sleep a little sounder at -night
thanks to the Citizen's On Patrol (C.O.P.) program. •
Manned by 60 volunteers, the program is designed.to control and
curb crime in the community. . •
Almost every night a team of two patrols the town donating 'the
use.of their vehicle, gas and time to make Exeter a safer place to
live and work. • -
The program has been spearheaded by Exeter O.PP Senior Const.
. Liam Brennan. . -
Brennan researched similar programs in Bayfield. Barrie. Ft.
Worth, • Texas and Phoenix,. Arizona • before designing Exeter's
programa
"After looking into other programs 1 sat down and designed this -
program specifically to suit this community's needs." said Brennan.
.'When .t got an idea of what i wanted to do i .went to my staff sar-
gent and we went from there."
Brennan explained that anrinymity -for the volunteers is a hall-
mark of the program he created. •
"People just don't want to he: known and therefore none of the
cars patrolling are.marked." he said
The program is run completely on donations including a police
,canner and. cellular 1ihone from MacLean"s Radio Shack in co -
1
operation with Belt Canada. four spotlights. four binoculars and kit
- hags 'from Canadian Tire and flyer, from 'DesktolS. Publishing 'in -
Huron Park. .
"The donations from the community' have been phenomenal.':
said Brennan.
His highest accolades however are' saved for -the -volunteers -that
have come forward to donate their time to run the program.
"All of them have taken the job seriously arid they've done a
.great job," Brennan beamed "Without the assistance of the commu-
nity we would not he effective as a -police force."
This T -A reporter participated in:a Friday night shift of C.O.P. and
while thc volunteers wanted to remain anonymous, both participants
were enthusiastic aboutthe program.
The C.O.P. volunteers were•both self described empty -nesters that
were looking for something useful to do with their time.
Even though they lamented that the shift /throws their sleep off for
days: they felt thc trade -oft ., ,s well worth it.. -
"You feel like you arc accomplishing something even if you go
r •
out one night and nothing happens ..it is still rewarding.•" said one
a•olunteer. "Sometimes, you can alley tate the problem by ansyvering
it instead of just complaining." -
"i just want to give something hack to society ...i'm not looking
for any thankyous. You just get to a stage in your life where you
know that you have taken from the communityiand you want to start
giving something back." said the other volunteer.
Even off-duty. Brennan and two of his fellow constables. George
Finch and Bob Gilmar. have volunteered their own time to partici-
pate in the program:
"We are just volunteers like everyone else." said Brennan. "It is
my community too. Not only dol. work here but I also live here."
THE EXETER
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424 MAIN ST. EXETER
(519) 235-1331 • FAX (519) 235-0766
Despite the high number of volunteers. Brennan says the pro-
gram is always looking for More people to come out and pitch
in. .
"We are always looking for new volunteers... all the help we.
can get is appreciated." he said: •
All Brennan -asks is that volunteers donate—a minimum of two '
hours a Month to. the program. - -
"There is not a lot of extensive training involved. it is just a'
hunch of people who want to do good in the community." said
Brennan. "This is a.grassroots community oriented policing
program.' -
Patrols can he run •anytime.hetween I I p.m. - 6 a.m.
"There is no set schedule from when they run so you'll never
know when Or where we'll po-p up." said Brennan. " -
The CO.P. team is supplied with a.kit hag including a spot --
light. binoculars. logbook. police scanner and a cell phone to..
assist them while on patrol. At no time are the volunteers put -
into danger. they are just asked to observe and note any suspr-
. cious or criminal activity they witness while on patrol. The.vol-
unteers are never required to make an arrest or intercept -anyone.
.-• "The police just cant he everywhere all the time." said
Brennan: "We need an extra pair of eyes." - --
While the program has only been operation since March I.
C.O.P has already produced tangible results. -
Brenhan explained that because ofrthe pr1rarli the p?lice
have been alerted to several incidents includint:
•, Removing a drunk driver -from the highway who was suhsb-
quently charged; .
Acareless driver was removed from the highwayi •
Some yciuth have heed charged with possession of stolen
propetrty. .
• An erratic driver wa removed from the highway j
Brennan is hoping to implement the C.O.? program•in other
communities tncluding Hensall. Stephen Township. HLron Park
and Zurich. -
"i hope to see Zurich and Hensall online shortly. We already
have the equipment. now we -just need the volunteers," Brennan
said
He stressed while the ZrO.P. mobile unit is a great resource
he didn't want to people to forget the efforts and contribution of
the average concerned citizen
"We still need your tips." he said.
-The initial success -of -C.0 P has sparked interest from other
communities Brennan has already been asked lti give three j
speaking engagements on the program and .he has two .more
scheduled.
Brennan is proud of Exeter's C.O.P program and credits the
• I
community for supporting it.
"This is a community based town. Exeter is full of volunteers
-and people who are proud of this community." he said. -
if yon are interested in volunteenng for a C.O.P. program in •
your community. call Brennan at 519 235-1300.
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