INNISFAIL – The new Citizens on Patrol chapter has been active for about two months now but it has been a financial struggle.
However, as in any new project, start-up costs have been challenging, and Innisfail town council has stepped up to give the group a $5,000 financial boost for members to have up-to-date equipment to safely do their important volunteer work for the community.
After more than a year and a half of organizing with Innisfail RCMP, the resurrected Innisfail chapter of Citizens On Patrol (I.C.O.P.) finally hit the streets with eight active members Feb. 6.
It was the first time in more than nine and a half years I.C.O.P. members have been active since the past version ceased operations on Aug. 31, 2014.
Last month, Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, presented a report and recommendation that council provide $5,000 to I.C.O.P. to purchase start-up equipment.
The motion was approved unanimously by council.
Council was told the new I.C.O.P. is looking to have 20 additional members.
However, council was told the group’s first weeks in the community had come with financial challenges.
Becker’s report said some volunteers have already contributed their own money into the start-up costs, with one giving $800.
“The formation of I.C.O.P. has been a costly venture and many of the costs have been covered by our volunteers and also by a $1,500 donation from the National Police Federation,” said Izetta Sellors, I.C.O.P. president in a Feb. 8 letter to council and mayor Jean Barclay. “We are currently exploring alternatives for funding support of the association ongoing (grants, community fundraising etc.) but these initiatives will take time to launch.”
Becker’s report noted the now-defunct Olds’ Citizens on Patrol chapter donated personal protective equipment (PPE) for the startup of I.C.O.P.
“I think they need some seed money to get going. I am not sure about ongoing requests but consider this as a one-time request until we hear back later,” Becker told council.
Council was told I.C.O.P. is currently needing fire extinguishers, first aid kits, four dash cameras, naloxone kits, and PPE.
The dashcams would be utilized for citizen safety, council heard.
Coun. Jason Heistad wanted to know whether there was an opportunity for I.C.O.P. to work with the town’s Policing and Safe Community Committee to help it achieve its goals for the community.
Becker said a local community peace officer has been assigned to work with the new I.C.O.P.
“We feel they directly need direct support on the operational side and I think we're doing a good job of assigning that one individual to the group,” said Becker, who was told a member of the Innisfail RCMP is also assisting I.C.O.P.
The mandated role of citizen members of the Citizens On Patrol program is to act as additional “eyes and ears” for their community and the police, with an ultimate goal of reducing crime in the community.
The role of C.O.P. members on the street is to assist RCMP and report anything suspicious to their law enforcement partners. They work in pairs and never go out alone.
