The Duluth Police Department has launched the first graduates of a new ‘Citizens on Patrol’ program. The first nine graduates have completed a vehicle maintenance course, and 8 of the 9 have completed a slow speed precision driving cone course. These volunteers will patrol as many times a week as they wish, as long as there are two members in the vehicle at all times. They will not ride with a police officer.
The specially marked ‘Citizens On Patrol’ Chevrolet Impala is equipped with a police radio to keep in contact with dispatch and a yellow emergency light bar. There are no blue or red lights.
These volunteers will be primarily responsible for patrolling neighborhoods, business complexes, and parks looking for anything out of the ordinary or suspicious. They will then report over the radio and a nearby police unit will respond. They can also assist stranded motorists or direct traffic at collision scenes.
These citizens are not armed. They will not be handling vacation house checks, or responding to calls for service with officers, other than collisions and stranded motorists.
To participate in the program volunteers must live within city limits and first graduate the city’s Citizens Police Academy before applying for the patrol unit.
Information: www.tinyurl.com/omwndjc.
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