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Thursday, April 21, 2022
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Citizens on Patrol at ‘critically low level’
$
49.
Making a Splash
Volunteers needed
By John Cairns Staff Reporter
Citizens on Patrol went before the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday with a pitch for new members. Representatives including Doug Fehr, RCMP S/ Sgt Jason Teniuk and city officials including Mayor David Gillan went before the chamber’s noon hour directors meeting outlining their high hopes for reviving the organization in 2022. Fehr explained that COVID-19 has had a significant effect on their membership. The Citizens on Patrol Program, known as COPP for short, used to have upwards of 30 volunteers in the recent past. But volunteers now number fewer than 15, and Fehr explained active patrols are being done by only a half dozen people. “It’s at a critically low level,” Fehr said of the membership levels. “We’re having a difficult time recruiting people.” RCMP S/Sgt Teniuk also called for more people to get involved in COPP in the Battlefords, and pledged to offer the RCMP’s support. “We are on the cusp
of an opportunity here. I don’t think we realize that,” said Teniuk. He noted that it is only through community involvement that North Battleford will see a reduction in the city’s Crime Severity Index numbers. Teniuk pointed out that if they hired more cops, the CSI would simply go up because more arrests would be made. “You’re never going to deal with a CSI with cops. That’s not how it works. The CSI gets dealt with through community engagement.” Fehr pitched some ideas to the chamber on how the business community might help them get memberships up. One idea is for COPP to offer a gift card to those who meet their metrics in terms of completing training, or completing patrols, as an incentive to get people to join up. Another idea Fehr pointed to was that some businesses in the community were “exceedingly community minded” and have policies where their employees provide hours to the community. That could provide another ready source of volunteers for COPP.
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These ideas are at the conceptual stage right now, said Fehr. He added that the city and the RCMP were extremely supportive of what they were doing. “What we lack are the bodies to make it work.” Much of the discussion at the meeting focused on how to encourage recruitment and also allay any potential hesitancy. One issue raised was how to deal with safety concerns the public might have about getting involved. Fehr did acknowledge there was a perception out there that Citizens on Patrol involves people driving around in black unshaded cars, chasing people and trying to stop bullets. “That’s absolutely the opposite of what we’re doing,” said Fehr. “We’re a set of eyes and ears and that’s literally all we do.” Regarding their mission, Fehr described Citizens on Patrol as a group of men and women dedicated to safety, working in conjunction with RCMP and Community Safety Officers. Fehr said their members patrol in pairs in the community, and observe suspicious activities Continued on Page 5
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The Battlefords Synchronized Swimming Club held their year-end water show at the Battlefords Co-op Aquatic Centre. See page 10 for more photos and a story. If you’d like more information about the club, check out their Facebook page: Battlefords Synchronized Swimming Club. And go get your feet wet. | Photo by Kyle M. Anderson
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