Olds is one step closer to reviving Citizens On Patrol (COP) in the community.
COP is a group of local volunteers who agree to patrol the community to help the RCMP. They're allowed to do so after they've been screened, had background checks done on them and have been trained by police.
The group in Olds and area folded after several existing members stepped down for health and other reasons. There was a concern that not enough people could be found to take their place.
About 60 people came out to the fire hall Wednesday, Nov. 8 for an organizational meeting to look at reviving the group.
It was decided to give people two weeks to become registered Alberta Citizen on Patrol Association (ACOPA) members before elections are held.
Application forms to join the association are available at the RCMP detachment at 5110-65 Ave. or the town's administration office at 4512-46 St.
Another meeting will be held at the end of November or early December, during which time COP members can volunteer for various positions on the board and its executive.
Meanwhile, "there are many tasks that could be done to support the re-boot of this organization, including webpage design, technology and communication expertise to complement those doing patrols," says Jennifer Lutz, Town of Olds community facilitator.
All COP members must complete basic training which will be offered in Olds but there is a Train the Trainer program being held in Linden on Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Transportation from Olds and lunch will be provided but space for Olds participants is limited to 20 members.
Those interested in attending can register with Eventbrite by searching for ëcitizens on patrol training linden'. People can also contact [email protected] or call Lutz at 556-6981 for more information.
"People are very concerned about crime and want to be part of a solution," Lutz says. "The former COP group who have retired, left the organization in good shape. There is seed money and some equipment remaining so the target is to start patrols in December."
Olds resident Vince Clarke is helping to spearhead the group.
"It kinda ended up falling into my lap, just by chance," he says. "We had a real bad rash of incidents on 49th Street. I got everybody together and I was, like, ëwhat the heck can we do to kind of curb this horrible trend we've got going on on 49th Street?"
About five weeks ago, they organized a meeting in a boardroom provided by the Pomeroy Inn & Suites that attracted about 30 concerned citizens.
That led to a decision to try to revive COP.
"We were just hoping to help people out on our street. We were going to help set up surveillance, help put up lights for people who didn't have the means of doing so," Clarke says.
"Police are very optimistic with the progress thus far," says Olds RCMP Cpl. Shawn Morgan.
The Town of Olds is very grateful for the assistance it has received on this project from the ACOPA, Olds RCMP, and from Clarke.
"People are very concerned about crime and want to be part of a solution."JENNIFER LUTZCOMMUNITY FACILITATORTOWN OF OLDS
