Volunteers getting set to patrol Riverview ward

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This article was published 25/09/2018 (2759 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Brandon city councillor has announced plans to start a new volunteer patrol program in Riverview ward with the aim of reducing crime in the community.

Coun. Glen Parker (Riverview) revealed the idea for a Riverview ward patrol at the East End Community Centre on Tuesday to a handful of supporters, including business owners, members of the Brandon Police Service, the Assiniboine Community College police studies program and the City of Brandon.

Parker, who is running for re-election against Brock McEwing and is the sales and marketing director for The Brandon Sun, said six businesses have committed $12,000 in total to pilot the program for two years.

These supporters include B.O.B. Headquarters, Shur-Gro Farm Services, Crane Steel Structures, Redfern Farm Services, Behlen Industries and Cando Rail Services.

The plan is to have the patrol running by November.

“We want to give it an honest effort,” Parker said. “We figure two years will give us a good baseline as to whether we’re seeing some results or not.”

The patrol would work during the evenings and keep an eye out for suspicious behaviour and potential crimes, including vandalism, vehicle theft, and break and enters.

Although the announcement came in the midst of a municipal election, Parker maintained the patrol was not a campaign promise and would happen regardless of whether he retains his seat on council come Oct. 24.

He said talks first began in the spring, but weren’t finalized until September.

“Now we’re just going to get running, and regardless of how the election goes the program is in place to move forward,” he said.

The initial cost is expected to come in at $6,300 per year. The money will mostly cover the cost of fuel, but will also fund vests, lights, an appreciation event for volunteers and any necessary insurance.

The hope is as many as 50 volunteers sign up for the patrol, committing at least one shift per month.

“I think it will be good for the community, and I think … we can get other people involved if we can make it work,” Shur-Gro president and owner Ron Helwer said.

Students in Assiniboine’s police studies program will also be able to volunteer for shifts and gain experience while they’re in school.

“I think it will be extremely beneficial because it gives us kind of a taste of what it’s like, certainly not the full experience, but a hint of it,” cadet Harold Martin said.

Others, like BPS deputy chief Randy Lewis, said the program will supplement existing law enforcement efforts.

“Certainly, the Brandon Police Service will provide some guidance in regards to what to do if volunteers do encounter a crime in progress. Essentially that will be to contact the police service immediately, not to take action or put themselves in any kind of danger,” he said.

“Being able to notify the police service of where and when a crime is occurring will allow us to respond and address that criminal activity much more efficiently.”

The City of Brandon will not provide any funding for the pilot, but Mayor Rick Chrest called it a very positive program that could be great for many areas of the city, as long as there are enough volunteers and financial support.

Chrest was at the announcement, but said he wasn’t there to endorse Parker as a candidate. Rather, Parker was making the announcement as a citizen and not as a campaign promise, he said.

Last week, Chrest said he wouldn’t be taking sides in the election, having already been acclaimed for a second term as mayor.

“This is something that has been worked on in the community for a number of months. Now they’re getting going, so it’s not really a pledge, it’s a reality,” Chrest said.

He added there is an expectation of him as mayor to continue doing his job before a new council is elected on Oct. 24. Even so, he acknowledged it does get “tricky” when their work overlaps with the election.

“I’m all for helping groups of citizens, acknowledging groups of citizens, that have been trying to work together as is being done here,” he said.

For more information on how to volunteer for the Riverview ward patrol, contact rwpatrol@gmail.com.

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