Kelvin Goertzen, with Barry and Laurie McLean, members of the city’s Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP).
Important community safety program in need of more participation
Steinbach MLA, Kelvin Goertzen, spent an evening last week with Barry and Laurie McLean, members of the city’s Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP), patrolling the community and getting a first hand look at the valuable contribution the program and its volunteers make to the safety of Steinbach.
“The volunteers with COPP, whether in Steinbach, Grunthal or Niverville, are giving of their time to help improve the safety of their community. I was able to see first hand the sort of things that they do to assist local law enforcement and to help proactively discourage crime,” said Goertzen.
The Progressive Conservative Justice Critic noted that COPP enlists volunteers to become the eyes and the ears of a community by patrolling the community and recording suspicious or criminal activity. Volunteers with COPP do not approach individuals but record and document suspicious events and report them to police.
Goertzen notes that local law enforcement officials have told him that the COPP is a valuable tool for the City. However, it remains a volunteer initiative and there is a need for more volunteers in Steinbach to ensure the program remains viable.
“The volunteers that are currently on the Steinbach COPP are a really dedicated and committed group. But there needs to be a larger group of volunteers involved to ensure that not only is the program sustainable but that it is providing the coverage needed to make an impact in reducing crime,” said Goertzen.
Goertzen is encouraging local residents who are interested in participating in the Steinbach COPP to contact either the City of Steinbach or local COPP coordinator Laurie McLean at 320-2911.
