Citizen on Patrol marks 25 years of service in Kindersley

Kindersley’s Citizen on Patrol Program (COPP) has been helping keep the community safe for 25 years. The non-profit, volunteer-run group uses its fundraising dollars to support fuel costs, training, public education and equipment.

The crime-prevention program relies on volunteers who patrol the community and report suspicious activity or unsafe conditions to the RCMP and the Town of Kindersley. The added “eyes and ears” provide information that can help reduce vandalism, theft and other offences.

The program works alongside the RCMP, and new patrollers are welcome. Volunteers must be at least 18, hold a valid driver’s licence and have no criminal convictions in the previous five years. Applicants must also pass an RCMP clearance check.

Members receive training to ensure they can patrol safely and responsibly. Volunteers do not carry weapons, must travel in pairs and are required to follow traffic laws and municipal bylaws. All members take an oath of confidentiality; breaches can result in removal from the program.

Patrollers report suspicious activity but do not directly confront individuals. Organizers say the reward for volunteers comes from helping make their community safer.

Those interested in joining can contact the Kindersley RCMP at 306-463-4642 or apply online through the town’s website.

Local businesses can also participate by purchasing annual monitoring services, which include a storefront sign. The first-year fee is $100, with a $50 renewal cost. COPP also welcomes financial contributions and issues tax-deductible receipts.

The group encourages residents and businesses to work together to keep Kindersley a safe place to live.