The newly regrouped Citzens on Patrol (COP) is hosting another public meeting.
The meeting will be held at the Sunshine Inn on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
Originally formed in 1993 after a rash of crime in the downtown core of Smithers, the COP group had rotating foot and eventually vehicle patrols. With a van donated by Frontier Chrysler and other community partners, the group was easily identifiable and acted as a deterrent to crime in the downtown core of Smithers.
In recent years the COVID-19 pandemic and volunteer burnout were essentially the death knell for the group.
However, last year, an informational meeting was held for the public regarding the need to once again establish the COP program, after a recent rise in crime.
That meeting saw a huge turnout.
Since then, a small group has been working to renew the program but resuming operations required that the program meet the standards of the Societies Act of BC.
According to organizers, with background work in place, they are now seeking volunteers to join COP and to prepare for routine patrols and other community safety activities.
“I’m really optimistic that we’re going to get a good turnout on Thursday and then many hands will make work light and we’ll be able to put together a safe and effective patrol program,” said Lorne Benson, one of the community members trying to get the program going again.
COP will be run from the community policing office on First Street in Smithers, which is where people may also sign up. People are encouraged to go there to get information and to sign up for the various programs.
This will also be the office where training takes place, and be the operational centre.
READ MORE: Citizens on Patrol meeting attracts large turn-out