The West St. Paul Citizens On Patrol Program (WSP COPP) has made significant strides since its inception in 2011. With a committed team of 43 volunteers, they consistently contribute over 80 hours each month towards enhancing community safety. Their partnership with the National COPP and RCMP extends the reach of local law enforcement by acting as vigilant observers in the area.
“We are the additional eyes and ears for the RCMP to help them patrol the R.M.,” said WSP COPP Coordinator Murray Luschinski.
Volunteers with the WSP COPP are always looking for anything suspicious or dangerous in the community, including monitoring vehicles, people, parks and roadways.
“We recently helped keep trick-or-treaters safe for Halloween by handing out reflective wristbands and flashers so they could be seen in the dark,” Luschinski added. “If we see anything that would be a hazard to the R.M., we try to fix it.”
He explained that nighttime street safety is for more than just Halloween night. WSP COPP volunteers encourage anyone out for a walk in the dark to wear reflective gear or a light so others can easily spot them.
On Oct. 26, the WSP COPP attended the Manitoba COPP Conference and were recognized by Manitoba COPP representatives for their outstanding services provided to the WSP community.
“We received the Group Outstanding Service Award. We have gotten to be amongst the fastest growing and largest group in the province, and we were recognized for that growth,” said Luschinski.
For himself, being recognized within the province leaves him feeling a sense of accomplishment.
“It feels good knowing that everything our group is doing is being recognized and being acknowledged for their efforts.”
On top of WSP COPP’s group award, Luschinski was also honoured with the Outstanding Member Service Award.
Luschinski has volunteered with the WSP COPP since 2015, contributing over 1,600 hours of safety patrolling within WSP.
“I am a strong believer in the program. When done effectively, it becomes a deterrent to criminal activity. Knowing that you can contribute to your community by making it a safer place to live in for residents of the R.M. is inspiring to me.”
WSP resident volunteers are always welcome. If interested email infor@wspcopp.com for more information on how to join.
For anyone outside of WSP, many community COPP organizations exist throughout Manitoba. To find a COPP group near you, visit www.citizensonpatrolmb.ca.
