Flin Flon’s Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) has received some financial assistance, courtesy of first responders in the community.
The program recently received a $600 donation from the Flin Flon Fire Department. Sinclair James, COPP’s Flin Flon chair, said groups like his need all the funding help they can get.
“We just can't ask for grant money for fuel and consumable items,” he said.
“It's hard to get a grant for something you can't show. If you get a grant for a specific item, say a tire for a trailer, you can show that tire. You have a reason for it. But it's tough to get a grant for fuel consumption or something like that.”
The $600 donation from the fire department will help cover some of COPP’s ongoing costs, including fuel reimbursement, cell phone bills, printing and insurance.
When asked why groups of a similar size can stretch smaller donations to their fullest, James’ answer was simple.
“We have to,” he said.
“We try to keep our overhead down, because we are we are supported by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). They are our main sponsor of the provincial citizens on patrol program. They they supply us with our shirts and our hats and our signs that we see around Flin Flon, but for individual items like Flin Flon’s trailer and a speed sign, we have to pay for that.”
Sinclair added since Flin Flon is a bigger community with a larger fundraising base, MPI doesn’t provide as many resources.
James has worked with COPP for five years.
“We're the eyes and the ears to the police,” he said.
“If we see a crime being committed, or if we hear of a crime, then we help the police.”
Sinclair used an example of seeing a potential drunk driver get into a car outside of a bar as something COPP might report to the cops.
“It's our responsibility - it's everybody’s responsibility - to report that driver, because they could kill somebody,” he said.
“It's probably a good idea to inform the police and have them come take a look at it and assess the situation.”
After reporting any situation, it’s up to the police to follow up on a COPP report.
“If they feel that it's worthy of stopping the person checking their blood alcohol level, that's entirely up to the police,” James said. “We don't give out tickets. We don't confront anybody. We just watch, and if we think it's suspicious, we report it.”
James said he has become more aware and alert after joining COPP and encouraged more people to be vigilant and help police.
“Anybody can be a citizen and report situations,” he said. “They don't even have to be a COPP member, we're just more apt to phone in.”
Sinclair has seen ups and downs with crime in the Flin Flon area.
“It's hit and miss with crime,” he said.
“Sometimes it's just going crazy, and other times it just slows right down. Just like with the police, they have to pretty much catch you in the act and we have to see people doing it. We can't assume that somebody's breaking the law. We have to see them doing it.”
James said Flin Flon’s COPP is “always looking for volunteers.” To volunteer for COPP, call (204)-271-4881 or visit http://citizensonpatrol.mb.ca. Volunteers need to undergo a criminal record check before joining.
