After about a year since starting the effort to get off the ground, members of the revived Sundre Citizens on Patrol Association (SCOPA) have recently begun patrols.
The drive to bring back the society — which following a lull of volunteer engagement in the 1990s went into hiatus — stemmed from police statistics indicating since about 2015-16 a substantial increase in property crime.
“The team has made phenomenal progress,” said Ruby Edwards, secretary.
The society has been able to accomplish a lot internally, in terms of getting members trained in first aid as well as requirements that go above and beyond the minimum outlined by the Alberta Citizens on Patrol Association’s guidelines, she said.
Having many qualified members within the organization has served as a crucial asset that has facilitated those efforts, she said, adding their contributions have really helped prepare for the year ahead.
However, momentum in recent weeks has waned slightly, she said.
“It’s easier to lose momentum than to create it.”
Additionally, the society’s chair, Jack Goodall, announced his resignation last month, placing vice-president Bill Edwards in the position for the interim.
But overall, Ruby remains optimistic that the association is headed in the right direction.
One member who joined after a group training session for first aid even pursued certification on personal time to be able to join the patrol, which she called “quite commendable.”
“We need to get more people who want to do something other than just talk about” the problem of property crime, she said, hopeful that as the summer winds down and people’s schedules become less preoccupied with vacations that perhaps more members might be recruited.
“People need to start realizing that together, if we really work together, we can make this happen — we can reduce crime in this area,” she said.
“But it has to be more than verbal support; people have to actually do something.”
Although the initial training requires numerous hours before being qualified to start patrolling the streets — including a ride along with a member of the RCMP — the minimum time commitment required of volunteers afterwards is not onerous, she said, explaining members only have to put in one, six-hour shift every month. Of course anyone who is so inclined can patrol more frequently as his or her schedule permits.
Additionally, becoming a member of SCOPA offers a unique opportunity to develop and build not only new skills but friendships as well, she said.
A directors' meeting is scheduled for Sept. 25 starting at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal office. This meeting will serve to finalize the society’s budget for the following year. The organization’s annual general meeting will be held immediately following at 7:30 p.m.
“Sundre is a wonderful community, and we need your help to keep it that way,” she said, adding residents who might want to apply to join need only drop by the local detachment to fill out the required forms.
“We need to stand shoulder to shoulder as comrades do,” she said, adding strong community collaboration is key to curbing crime in the area.
