BOWDEN - Mayor Robb Stuart hopes the Town of Bowden will have Citizens On Patrol (COP) operating in the town by the end of the month.
But he says it's too early to say whether that group will be a stand-alone entity or operate as an arm or chapter of the Olds COP.
Stuart told the Albertan he and other interested parties discussed the matter with Olds RCMP commanding officer Staff Sgt. Jim MacDonald as recently as last week.
"We're not sure yet (if it'll be a stand-alone group)," Stuart said. "There's so much to do. It's just that we're trying to be very proactive now.
"We were getting misinformation. Like if you phoned Edmonton they told you you need 40 people minimum or they wouldn't come down and train you. I've heard from different people that's not true -- from other COPs that are in existence. And they're mainly rural," he said.
During an earlier interview Olds COP public relations person Phyllis Horpenuk said the Olds organization can’t cover Bowden, nor can it spare the time and effort to help set up a Bowden chapter.
She noted the Olds chapter, instigated last fall, was still training its own people.
