LAKESIDE-LESTER PARK CITIZEN PATROL EXTRA EYES AND EARS WORKING TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY

BY ANDREA BUSCHE

If you see something, say something.” The odds are good that you’ve heard this phrase, which has become a sort of unofficial mantra for post 9/11 America. And, for good reason.

Many crimes have been thwarted and criminals caught due to an individual simply noticing that something seemed “off.” And there is no one better suited to noticing subtle differences in a particular neighborhood than a resident. After all, locals are typically driving the same route and visiting the same establishments regularly.

One way that residents and neighbors are stepping up to prevent crime in their communities is through joining their local Citizen Patrol. This group, in partnership with the Duluth Police Department, establishes relationships with police officers, monitors areas where crimes have been reported, and most importantly, speaks up when something just doesn’t look right.

There are many active Citizen Patrol groups in Duluth, including Lincoln Park, Woodland and Morgan Park. The Lakeside-Lester Park branch, led by retired educator Jim Anderson, is active and engaged, with regular monthly meetings and a dedicated group of volunteers.

Anderson shared that the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol was started in 1997 by resident Frank

Hoder and police officer Pete Stauber (who today represents Minnesota’s 8th District in the U.S. House of Representatives). Anderson joined the group in 2000.

Today’s Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol has about eight active, core members. This is down from a high of 28 members in 2002.

Anderson seems to be the natural choice to lead the group. He has lived in the Lakeside community for 75 years, and he and his wife, Peggy, raised their two adult children there. “I’ve always been interested in the safety of my community,” Anderson said.

Anderson said the point of the Citizen Patrol is to provide extra sets of eyes and ears for the well-being of the community. While some members are designated “watchers,” who may simply monitor activity on their own block, other members are actively out on patrol, driving around the community to observe. The group has a well-founded relationship with the Duluth Police Department, and Citizen Patrol members report anything that looks suspicious.

Duluth police officer Ethan Roe is the city’s East Area Community Officer. He attends Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol meetings as often as possible. Roe has been an officer for 10 years, all of them with the Duluth

Police Department.

He said, “I have been in my current position as East Area Community Officer for a little over a year now. My position is a little different than the officers people see out on patrol; I generally do not respond to 911 calls, but focus on long-term problem solving and community engagement for the eastern half of Duluth. This is essentially everything East of Mesaba Avenue, except for Canal Park and the business district portion of downtown, which is covered by another officer.”

Roe shared his perspective on the importance of the Citizen Patrol. “We rely on the partnership we have with our citizens to help us be our eyes and ears in each of Duluth’s individually unique neighborhoods. When a citizen or group of citizens witnesses something, or don’t feel safe, we rely on them to report suspicious activity by calling 911. Whether someone joins a community organization like the Citizen Patrol or not, the most important thing residents can do to feel safe in their neighborhoods is to get out and get to know their neighbors and be each other’s eyes and ears.”

Officer Roe said Lakeside and Lester Park are no different than the rest of Duluth, in that the majority of issues officers deal with are nonviolent crimes.

Participation in the Citizen Patrol is done on a volunteer basis. Members must live in the community, be at least 18 years old and pass a criminal background check. Each member is issued an ID badge, lanyard and lime-green vest they can use to identify themselves when out on patrol. They are not issued weapons or police cars. Members use their own vehicles when they are driving around the community. There are no dues or fees to join the group.

Citizen Patrol membership is fairly loose; members do not have a quota of volunteer hours to meet, and can be as active as they choose to be. Members are expected to attend their group’s meetings, however, to stay informed on current events. For the Lakeside-Lester Park group, meetings are at 7 p.m. at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church on the second Tuesday of each month. During meetings, the group shares concerns and can ask questions. They also plan ahead for future events. For instance, the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol has provided security for neighborhood events such as the Lester River Rendezvous. Vendors are often required to set up the night before, and they take comfort in the fact that Citizen Patrol members are monitoring their site around-the-clock. The group also attends a variety of gatherings, such as National Night Out, to make their presence known in the community. In addition to police officers, city councilors also have an open invitation to attend Citizen Patrol meetings.

Anderson said the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol has helped catch its share of “bad guys” over the years. He proudly shared a few highlights.

“A few years ago, a group of us noticed some suspicious activity in the area of 58th to 60th Avenues East and Superior Street, and we brought it to the attention of the police. They asked the Citizen Patrol to hang out in the Super One parking lot late at night, so we did; we got more information, such as descriptions of cars and license plate numbers. Ultimately, this reporting broke up some drug activity in the area.”

Another time, Anderson and some other Citizen Patrol members had noticed that a group of young people were having some unauthorized fun with the golf carts at the Lester Park Golf Course. “They got four or five of them started, and one of them was dumped in the Lester River,” he said. “We reported this, and a K-9 officer was able to locate the thieves.”

Anderson is proud of his years spent in service to the Citizen Patrol. He said the group is always looking for new members, and would love for more young people to participate. “It’s a great way to volunteer for your community and help make it a better place,” he said.

And, while it can be difficult to compare the different Citizen Patrol groups across Duluth due to the differences in each neighborhood, Officer Roe said, “The members of the Lakeside-Lester Park Citizen Patrol are very dedicated, and a great asset for the community.”

Andrea Busche is a Duluth freelance writer who will be digging into Duluth’s unique neighborhoods in every issue of Duluth.com.