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Volunteer
Bike Patrol
Cst. Nathalie Stewart and members of the South Arm Community Police Station located in the city of Richmond, B.C. developed a volunteer bike patrol to service our detachment area. Cst. Stewart hired and trained our seven volunteers in Spring 1998, with seven more being trained in early 1999. Fifteen hours of classroom training and on-the-road riding training got our community residents started.
Participants must be minimum 19 years of age, and
a security-cleared volunteer at the South Arm station with a minimum of 40 hours.
They are interviewed, and receive photo I.D. cards, as well as a cell phone.
They also receive training in radio/telephone procedures, legal responsibilities,
and proper cycling technique.
We have two person patrols only. Their dress code is comprised of proper cycling
attire with our Community Policing logo on back. Volunteers sign out supplied
equipment, including a bike, cell phone, etcetera. Patrols are made through
parking lots, parks, school ground, alleys, and hot spots for crime. They are
told to OBSERVE and REPORT ONLY.
Volunteers now are targeting a large Famous Players theatre complex. The parking
lot has been a hot bed for stolen autos. The I.C.B.C. 'Lock it or Lose it' program
is being used, to educate the public with friendly reminder notices left on
their vehicles telling them how their vehicle was left insecure.
Clients
Residents of Richmond, victims of crime, etc.
Our current twelve person Regular Member bike section was disbanded due to other operational needs. The community demanded more routine regular patrols to observe and report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods. The RCMP could not be everywhere, nor could be everything to everyone. We needed to involve the citizens to help us detect crime hot spots and prevent such occurrences.
The business community supported us financially for the equipment. I.C.B.C. continues to support this initiative via funding and volunteer appreciation nights. Service clubs (Sunshine Rotary Club) also provided funding. I.C.B.C. provided the cell phone along with BC Tel Mobility (Air Time). Media supports this endeavour whenever a success story unfolds involving the volunteers.
As noted above, the response has been a dedicated
group of trained volunteers who patrol our community to observe and report (eyes
and ears) suspicious activity to the RCMP members patrolling in their respective
zones.
Assessment
Volunteers were used this past Halloween night and had a deterrent effect on
young people wandering the streets. On the first night out in May 1998, our
two volunteers located a vehicle with stolen plates attached to it. The volunteers
used the cellular phone to call it in to our community police station turf constable.
Our members arrested the persons in the vehicle, seized the stolen plates, and
found out one of the persons had serious outstanding warrants for his arrest
from Vancouver.
The volunteer bike patrol has been a tremendous success. We have reduced calls for service in the theatre complex by our bike patrol presence. The residents of our community sincerely appreciate our proactive security presence in their respective neighbourhoods. An extra set of eyes and ears gives our citizens that added perception of a safe community. The positive media coverage has put the "bad guys" on alert that citizens patrolling on bikes are watching them in our community. This type of community involvement compliments our decentralized problem-solving service delivery. Our turf constables and volunteer bike members now have ownership and a vested interest in their own neighbourhoods.
For more information, contact:
Cst. Nathalie Stewart
(604) 713 -2300
South Arm Community Police Station
Richmond, B.C.
© RCMP-GRC September 14, 1999
