Ask Gary Broden, police chief of Avondale Estates, about the community’s new Citizens Patrol, and he is adamant about stressing a key point: The patrol volunteers won’t be doing any more than serving as another way to keep an eye on what’s happening in the city of 3,000 residents.
“They are not playing police,” said Broden, whose staff includes 13 full-time sworn and three reserve officers. “They understand that they are not to be confrontational. They are really an extension of our citywide neighborhood watch program that’s been going for about five years.”
The volunteers cruise the town’s residential, tree-lined streets and the commercial thoroughfare along Avondale Road from the comfort of a well-marked vehicle provided by the city. Their only arms are cellphones and a direct line to the police in the area — and their observational skills.
“They are just eyes and ears and are not there to engage anyone,” said Clai Brown, the city manager. “And they don’t carry weapons. There is a procedures manual in place that everyone must sign off on before joining the patrol because we want to make sure everyone is professional about this.”
The concept launched in June with 50 volunteers who dress in khaki pants and dark blue shirts and who sign up for 2-hour shifts. The volunteers were recruited from the ranks of those who had previously attended the city’s citizen police academy, an 8-week program the gives residents an inside look at how the police department operates.
“It gives them a working knowledge of what we do, and why and how we do it — instead of thinking about what they learned on TV,” said Broden. “We don’t resolve issues in 45 minutes.”
Volunteers also underwent background checks and took additional training with officers in vehicles.
“That was important to show them that, when patrolling, you go slowly at five or seven miles an hour, and you can see a lot more detail,” said Brown.
When Matt Miller, an Estates resident since 1962, learned about the patrol, he signed up and volunteered to organize the driving shifts.
“It’s kind of like Mayberry here, so we’re not seeing a lot of action, but the presence of the car is nice,” he said. “I have no police skills, and our job is to move away from trouble, but I have been able to help broken-down motorists and report downed tree limbs.”
On a recent afternoon, Miller teamed with Sherri Dickens to drive around the community, often waving at walkers and neighbors working in their yards. Dickens, an active Neighborhood Watch organizer, sees the patrol as another proactive outreach.
“We want the city to remain a desirable and safe place to live,” she said. “And people say they like seeing the vehicle and knowing we’re out here.”
In addition, Dickens, a 17-year resident, said being part of the patrol has paid off in unexpected ways.
“I’ve met people I would not have met otherwise and seen beautiful houses and yards I might not have noticed,” she said. “It’s volunteerism that works in many ways.”
Each Saturday, we shine a spotlight on a local neighborhood, city or community. To suggest a place for us to visit, e-mail H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or call 770- 744-3042.
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