BY KEITH LACEY
A 12-month pilot project aimed at making the community safer will be launched by Greater Sudbury Police Service Thursday.
The Citizens on Patrol (COP) program will be operated in Capreol and Nickel Centre. Training sessions for participants selected to participate took place this past weekend at the Millennium Centre in Capreol (the old Capreol High School).
The community-driven project has received strong support from Police Chief Ian Davidson, the Greater Sudbury Police Services Board and city council.
The program is designed as a one-year pilot project, which will then be reviewed and perhaps expanded, said Sgt. Wayne Foster, media relations co-ordinator for the police service.
The police service hopes the COP program will help ensure increased safety of residents, while at the same time fostering partnerships between the service and citizens, said Foster.
As part of the program, candidates selected from the community will patrol the community in vehicles and notify law enforcement agencies of any emergency situations or suspicious behaviour.
?The public needs to know this is not a means of replacing police officers, but serves as an extra set of ears and eyes for the police service,? said Foster. ?It?s an organized group of individuals who are responsible neighbours who will provide information to the police and we will then act on that information.?
All participants who applied to participate in the program must be 19 year sof age and older, possess a valid driver?s license and First Aid/CPR certificate, be in good health and pass a police background check.
They must also possess good interpersonal and communication skills, a positive attitude and be willing to work in a team environment, said Foster.
A poster contest is being held to promote the program.
Interested artists can submit proposals which will be used to educate the public about this new initiative. All entries should be submitted to the Greater Sudbury Police Service Community Response Unit at Tom Davies Square.
All entries must be received by Nov. 15.
