Keremeos residents are trying to restart their local Citizens on Patrol group.
A group of four residents are looking for more volunteers ahead of a December 13 AGM.
“We want to supplement the RCMP because we know they’re probably overtaxed on their resources,” said Arlene Arlow, the group’s treasurer. “We also have a substantial amount of funding from when society kind of withered away and that funding should be used in the community.”
The group started more than two decades ago and ran up until 2016, when many of its members either moved or retired from volunteering. A previous attempt at restarting the group was tried in 2019.
The goal is currently to get enough members to restart their patrols and to get the speed radar back up and running.
“Citizens on Patrol does own its speed radar equipment and [the RCMP] would love us to be out there during the day here and there,” said Arlow.
Once the group has enough members, they plan to start up with regular monthly meetings in January until everything is in place with the RCMP to bring back the patrols and speed radar.
“Mostly it happens on weekends, but there’s no reason if we have the people and they’re interested that we can’t have evening patrols during the week,” said Arlow.
People interested in volunteering, or just interested in learning a bit more about the Citizens on Patrol group, are invited to the AGM.
The AGM will be held on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Village of Keremeos’ Council Chambers.
Questions can also be directed to the group by emailing keremeoscitizensonpatrol@protonmail.com.
Volunteers are required to be at least 18 years of age and have to pass a criminal record check. While the positions are unpaid, fuel costs would be reimbursed.
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