The first order of business was getting patrols up and running.
Now Flin Flon’s Citizens On Patrol Program (COPP) is looking to bolster its crime-fighting work.
“I would like to see more [volunteers],” said COPP chairman Sinclair James. “Then there would be less work for the already involved volunteers. We could patrol more often and have even better coverage, and when it comes to fundraising it would make things easier.”
James would ultimately like to see all eligible residents assist COPP, if only for a few hours a month, to help strengthen “safety and security” in Flin Flon.
With 21 volunteers now on board, COPP has been gradually raising its profile since forming last year.
The group has been conducting patrols of Flin Flon (Creighton isn’t included) since December, serving as extra sets of eyes and ears for the RCMP.
“The only time we have specific areas [to patrol] is when we are concentrating on the school zones,” said James. “Otherwise we patrol all over Flin Flon and Channing at all hours of the day, evening and night.”
James believes the cold weather has kept some would-be volunteers from signing up, but now that temperatures are warming he expects an increase in volunteers and patrols.
To further establish its presence, COPP last month hung 20 blue and white signs reading “This Area Protected By Citizens On Patrol” at various public locations around Flin Flon.
Having spoken with COPP members in The Pas and Brandon, James believes the Flin Flon chapter is doing well in terms of volunteers but added there still aren’t enough.
“We have very similar ideas and goals,” said James, referring to other COPP groups, and “one thing we have in common is [the mandate] to keep our volunteers safe while protecting the best interests and safety of our communities’ citizens.”
Flin Flon’s COPP has benefitted from community and corporate support, with supplies such as vests provided by MPI and the Flin Flon Lions Club chipping in $1,000 for start-up costs.
Local establishments are donating meeting space, and community-supported fundraising is helping to cover costs such as fuel reimbursements for patrols.
COPP volunteers travel in teams of two or more people to conduct regular patrols both on foot and by vehicle.
If they see something suspicious, they notify the police. They do not have special authority to deal with criminals or make citizen’s arrests.
James, who has been part of COPP since mid-2014, is a big believer in the program.
“This program is operating in 60 other communities throughout the province of Manitoba and all over Canada, except Saskatchewan,” he said. “The mission of this non-profit organization is to ‘have citizen volunteers participate in community-based crime prevention initiatives dedicated to improving the safety of the community through deterrence, education and awareness in cooperation with local law enforcement and other community groups with similar objectives.’”
Anyone interested in volunteering with COPP may email [email protected] or attend the next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, April 15 at Mugsy’s Deli at 7:30 pm.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and be cleared by a criminal-record check.
– With files from Kelly Oswald
