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COPP looking for some new volunteers

The Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) is looking for new members. The group is looking for new volunteers to ensure that the program keeps going and is able to continue watching over the city of Yorkton.
COPP

The Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) is looking for new members. The group is looking for new volunteers to ensure that the program keeps going and is able to continue watching over the city of Yorkton.

One of the current members of COPP is G, who goes by a pseudonym as protecting anonymity is an important part of the program. The goal of the program is to help keep the community safe and assist the local RCMP in keeping watch on the community.

“We are another set of eyes for them on the street. We go down back lanes. I’ve lived here all my life and I never knew there were so many back lanes!”

The program has its own car and volunteers are instructed to drive around the city looking for anything that they find concerning or suspicious. If they find anything, they immediately inform the RCMP via phone or radio, they’re not to get out of the car or engage in any way.

“You look for things that are not ordinary. It might be somebody lurking around a building.”

 The goal is to be extra eyes and ears, but G says that it’s important that members don’t get involved in any incidents. COPP members can assist the RCMP in directing traffic after an accident, but are otherwise instructed to stay in the car.

“Whenever they’re involved we’re not, we stay back.”

The goal of the program is to make the city a safer place, and G believes that they have done that since the COPP’s inception. Now they need help continuing to keep the program going.

“We just need more bodies to go out and be effective on a weekend. On two nights, that’s four people each night. If you only have 15 volunteers or 10 volunteers that’s not very good.”

Members remain anonymous as a form of protection, G explains, because they are out looking to prevent crime there is naturally a risk that a criminal would try to retaliate if they know who tipped off the RCMP. That anonymity is baked into the way COPP is administered, with everyone referred to by a number rather than their name.

Volunteers need three things, G says. A valid drivers’ license, a police check, and a desire to make the city a safer place to live in.

The program goes out on Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. When the program started, it was every night, but they have had to cut back because of the smaller number of volunteers available.

To volunteer for COPP, someone can call 306-783-5022, 306-783-3564 or the RCMP at 306-786-2400. G says that people interested can go for a ride-along to see what the program is all about, and see if it’s the right fit for them.