Citizens on Patrol program supported by council
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

The Caledon Citizens on Patrol program will be getting the necessary funding to continue, Caledon council assured its representatives recently.

The volunteer group was seeking $5,000 to cover the cost of fuel per year. It also submitted a wish list of more than a dozen items which included vehicle fire extinguishers, first aid kits, portable handheld scanners, flashlights, spot light for searches, batteries, disposable cameras and small office supplies.

"We have no funding," patrol administrator Jane Clarke told council. "Right now we are at a roadblock."

She was joined in making the presentation by Terry Fast.

The group's mission is to enhance the safety of residents by assisting Caledon OPP in deterring crime in Caledon.

Clarke explained patrollers are carefully selected, screened and interviewed by a panel. Once trained, they are then paired and equipped with a police scanner and use a cell phone to maintain contact with the OPP's communication centre in Orillia. They log all occurrences and suspicious activity which is then secured by OPP members.

Fast noted the number of households and population in Caledon has increased. Caledon had 16,110 households in 2002 compared to 10,500 in 1991. The population was 50,595 in 2002, up from 34,965 in 1991. The population was projected to reach 58,000 in 2006.

Fast also pointed out from June 2002 to July 2006 Caledon Citizens on Patrol reported 1,274 incidents. The group did 625 patrols totalling 4,826 patrol hours and drove 73,280 kilometres.

Of the 1,274 incidents, 746 were for suspicious vehicles, 251 for suspicious persons, 98 for traffic complaints, 29 for impaired drivers, 26 for OPP assist, 25 for insecure premise, 14 for liquor offences, 14 for mischief, 14 for vehicle collisions, 11 for drugs, nine for fires, eight for disturbance, eight for thefts, seven for vandalism, seven for locate wanted or missing persons, five for loud party and two for assault with a weapon.

"We simply observe and report," Fast said, adding they don't get out of their vehicles.

Mayor Marolyn Morrison had praise for the patrol program.

"It has really paid off," she said. "You've done a lot. We do think it's a valuable program."

Councillor David Lyons pointed out council has allocated some funds from its charity golf tournament for Caledon Citizens on Patrol, the Policing Advisory Council of Caledon and Road Watch.

Councillor Annette Groves also praised the volunteers who patrol.

"You keep our community safe," she said.