On July 18, the Carman Dufferin Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) information night was held at the Carman Community Hall.
There were 17 residents in attendance from the Town of Carman and RM of Dufferin. Dustin Brown from Manitoba Citizens on Patrol was the facilitator and Cst. Devyn Toews of the RCMP was also there to field any questions.
Volunteer Applications and Criminal Record Check Fee Waiver Forms were given to the residents interested in volunteering at the Carman Dufferin COPP that evening.
“The next steps are when the volunteer application forms and criminal record checks are completed and received, the successful applicants will be provided the necessary training and equipment to begin their patrols,” said Monica Halbesma, Carman-Dufferin Fire Department’s public education safety coordinator.
The new COPP group in Carman is looking for a few extra sets of eyes and ears. There’s been some vandalism and car thefts lately, and the group would like to squash them before they escalate.
Contact information for Manitoba Crime Stoppers is already posted throughout the community, which is also serviced by the RCMP. Still, this new Citizens on Patrol Program will now be around to help coordinate crime prevention in the area.
The new Program’s goals will include:
Deterrence: to provide a presence in the community through patrolling.
Education: to educate residents on crime prevention.
Awareness: to increase residents’ awareness on crime-related issues.
For more information, please visit the Manitoba COPP website at www.citizensonpatrolmb.ca or contact Monica Halbesma at monica@townofcarman.com if you are interested in participating in the Carman Dufferin COPP.
