The Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) is holding a recruitment event tonight in Portage la Prairie. City councillor Colin Doyle is also the public safety chair for Portage and serves on the COPP board as the city's representative. He explains Portage wholeheartedly supports the initiatives of the organization.

"The program is an excellent way to get more eyes and ears on our city and help protect crime from taking place to our citizens and their property," says Doyle. "I'm proud to be a part of this organization and I encourage anyone who has some time to spare, please contact Rose and apply to be a patrol. Any time you can provide, makes our city that much safer."

Doyle adds the city would like to thank everyone who has been patrolling over the last 30 years and to those new recruits for 2023. 

The organization started up in Portage in 1992 with 70 members. Through its years, COPP has donated $59,500 to Kidsport, ROK Central, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and another $1,800 to other charities.

If you'd like to get involved, you can attend the recruitment event tonight at Stride Place. Here are the criteria for membership:

  • Must be 18 years of age or older
  • Must be of good health
  • Must have a positive Criminal record check completed, free of charge to volunteers
  • Must have a good reputation in the community and be trustworthy and credible while giving reports.
  • Must be people-oriented, a team player and will patrol with a partner
  • One 3-hour shift per month minimum is expected and is at the volunteers choice of date. The volunteer is encouraged to take part in other activities such as BBQs etc but it is not mandatory.
  • Members are encouraged to attend monthly meetings where they are given information from both RCMP, City Council, and membership.
  • Training consists of a 2-hour review of the Training manual completed by Provincial Trainers. This is followed by a 1-hour drive patrol of the city. Later in the month, a full 3-hour patrol will be completed by another Provincial trainer.

Patrol drivers are paid a per km mileage for patrolling rate.  

Several awards have been presented to the Portage COPP including:

  • The Minister of Justice and Attorney General Manitoba Crime Prevention Award in 1998.
  • 2007 Manitoba Attorney General Safer Communities Award (in recognition of and appreciation of your outstanding contribution to crime prevention in our community and province)
  • 2016 Premiers Volunteer Service Award (in recognition of volunteers of Outstanding merit in the Province of Manitoba)

COPP consistently volunteered between 1200 and 1500 hours a year and patrol between 5000 and 7000 kilometres a year before COVID. They patrolled throughout 2020 and 2021 during COVID on a reduced scale, and have a tremendous relationship with the local RCMP as well as the Mayor and City Council, who support their efforts and are their biggest cheerleaders.

COPP has worked closely with the RCMP, both in Portage as well as "D" division in Winnipeg. In the past they have also been involved with car theft audits with the RCMP, Seat belt audits for the D Division, Road safety twice a year.

The meeting takes place tonight at Stride Place between 6:00 and 8:00.