observer (
November 18, 2007)
There already are foot volunteers downtown. The friendship center volunteers are amazing people - I spoke to one after convincing an intoxicated person not to lie down in the middle of the street. The two volunteers spoke to the man by name, and walked him down the street to detox. They were respectful, warm and lovely volunteers. I can't see an everyday resident doing this - maybe driving in their car looking out for trouble. But there is a clear difference between speaking to someone like they are a person [and really making a difference], and driving by them and then calling the KPS - who might respond 3 hours later. I drive by the downtown corner and see locals openly drinking out of a vodka or listerine bottle. I don't call the KPS because they really don't care about public intoxication. They know what these people are doing sitting in the corner and they keep driving - even when the bottle is visible. THAT is why public intoxication came up in the policing report. Maybe the OPP will care about this when they take over Kenora. It is sad when a child in grade 2 knows why the man lying in the grass needs to take a nap there clutching his oversized beer bottle. |
COP (citizens on patrol) volunteer (
November 16, 2007)
The KPS and COP (citizens on patrol) currently work hand in hand to make the streets a little safer. We also offer the "extra" set of eyes for nights like gate night. There is no concern for our safety as we are trained to observe only. We have a few volunteers but it would be so much more effective with more volunteers on the street (we're actually driving around in our cars). We keep our eyes open for intoxicated drivers, missing youths, more presence around certain areas of town or whatever the police need us for that particular night. I think it's a great asset and makes me feel a little better knowing I may be helping out our community instead of just complaining about it |
Darren (
November 16, 2007)
What a great idea. An additional presence on the streets!! Since most of the petty crime that is committed, is done by repeat offenders, I wouldn't take long for those involved to get the message and move on. Give these volunteers the right of Citizens Arrest, a video camera, some training and a waiver of civil liability and this would work. |
daniel (
November 16, 2007)
Again the city will be paying for yet another group to do nothing while voluteers do the actual work for free. While we are at it lets just get rid of how many local police jobs? Lets just let the streets run wild with criminals.The current policing seems to be ineffective. Do you actually think that these criminals and vandals are going to take a volunteer seriously? I picture them waving in a not so polite manner to anyone who tries to stop them! |
Kenora mom (
November 15, 2007)
I don't think it is appropriate or safe for volunteers to help with community policing until the KPS has the town under control. Cemetary vandalism, public drunkeness, and drunk people lying in the street while a police car passes by down the street. I wouldn't want volunteers put in a situation that the KPS can't control. It will only cause trouble. Thank you to the NeeChee volunteers that are already out there in the evenings! |
Dave (
November 15, 2007)
Volunteers would be a valuable asset to our local, over worked police. These people would require some training as to what they can legally do and would need proper screening and identification.
Volunteers visibly working their own neighbourhoods would be a major crime deterent. Being that they know the terrain and better yet who lives and belongs there.
We could start with volunteers in the downtown, cemetary and Minto areas. |
Mike (
November 15, 2007)
I believe that all citizens should be involved in policing the community to some degree. Our collective eyes and ears are virtually everywhere. Decide the type of community you want to live in and act accordingly. By helping the police we can reduce crime and thus reduce our policing costs. |
Bill (
November 15, 2007)
I don't think volunteers should do patrols of our city on a regular basis, although there may be times when volunteers could be called upon to assist local authority. We should remember Sir Robert Peel's address to establish an ethical police force in London, England. " The police are the public and the public are the police, the police being only members of the public who are paid to give full time attention to duties which are incumbent on every citizen in the interests of community welfare and existence." |
david clink (
November 15, 2007)
I have thought for a long time that we should train volunteers for neighbour hood watches etc. We need leadership. |
Eddy (
November 15, 2007)
That's a great idea. The police can only be in so many places at once. Especially nowaday's when people expect them to be social workers as well as people upholding the law. This would get more people out on patrol and at very little cost. The police can use all the support we can give them. Of course we'll have tree huggers here that will say that it is their job but the fact is they have so many demands on them they can't keep up.
Particularily with KPS taking over the entire town from the OPP, they will need more staff for sure. |
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