Doug Fehr of the Battlefords COPP discusses the program at a meeting at the Melfort Legion. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW)

By Cam Lee

COP program

Learning about the Citizens on Patrol program in Melfort

May 7, 2024 | 10:35 AM

Residents and business owners in Melfort were on hand to learn more about another program geared toward curbing crime in the community.

The Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce (MTACC) hosted a presentation by Doug Fehr of the Battlefords Citizens on Patrol (COP) program Monday night at the Melfort Legion.

The meeting comes shortly after the inaugural Neighbourhood Watch information meeting held in the city.

Fehr told the small but passionate crowd that the program allows for immediate reporting of urgent issues to RCMP and other protective services. Less urgent issues can be recorded for future follow-up by the authorities.

The volunteer group’s primary role is to observe and report, not to enforce, and the goal is to deter crime. The Citizens on Patrol, always in pairs, take part in vehicular patrols throughout the community. They do not leave the vehicle and report anything they see to the authorities.

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Fehr said anyone looking to participate in the Citizens on Patrol program in Battleford must undergo a criminal record check, and an interview to determine whether they are a good fit.

He told northeastNOW anyone interested in setting up a Citizens on Patrol program must first establish the community’s needs.

“Everything is built from what the community’s needs are. Each community is different, and so that’s the way to start it up for sure,” Fehr explained.

The program’s participants essentially aid the RCMP by being another set of eyes and ears for them according to Fehr, potentially leading to faster response times and a more complete resolution of issues.

“Certainly, there’s a feeling of involvement with the community and community safety when people get involved with the COP program.”

Fehr believes the COP program helps deter criminal activity through their presence in the community. He agreed with Staff Sgt. Ryan Case’s assessment that the criminal element in a community can often come from people that aren’t living there.

“We had a problem with catalytic converter thefts about a year and a half ago and the RCMP discovered…most of the folks were from out of town,” said Fehr.

The COP program and the Neighbourhood Watch program have a lot of similarities and a common goal, said Fehr, and said a combination of the two for Melfort could benefit the city.

“(Neighbourhood Watch) is static and (COP) is mobile, that should provide some pretty good community safety coverage.”

Anyone looking for more information on the COP program can contact MTACC Executive Director Cal Gratton at trademelfort@melfort.ca.

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Cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK