The only thing standing in the way of a citizens on patrol program from returning to Yellowknife is liability insurance.
But that should be obtained in the near future, according to a resident trying to resurrect the group here.
In the spring, Yellowknife mayor Mark Heyck also told Moose FM the City was exploring the idea of bringing the program back to the community.
Yellowknife’s citizens on patrol program has been dormant for more than six years now. The program involves volunteers doing community patrols and reporting crime to police. Members are not trained in intervention.
Lea Martin is spearheading the movement to bring the group back to Yellowknife.
“Right now it’s just looking at insurance liability for our volunteers,” she told Moose FM.
“We want to ensure that they’re protected even though any chance of liability issues is pretty small. We want to follow a process that’s good for the volunteers and is conducive to other programs elsewhere in Canada.”
Once liability insurance is obtained, a town hall meeting will be organized to gauge community interest in the group. Martin believes there’s ample support for the group already.
“I know there’s a lot of interest because I’ve spoken to a lot of people in the last few months,” she said.
Martin is confident the group will become the eyes and ears of Yellowknife once it’s reintroduced.
If the program can’t be insured through the city, Martin says the option to register under the Alberta Citizens on Patrol Association is also available to them.
