Citizens on Patrol for Safer Streets
By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: February 8, 2013
HAGERSTOWN, MD - They're not in uniform, and not graduates of the Police Academy, but they're sharp when it comes to patrolling the streets.
"It's a force multiplier for the Police Department where it allows our police officers to be freed up to respond to other cars for service yet still provide a level of safety to the community and to the neighborhood," says Chief Mark Holtzman, Hagerstown Police Department.
They gather twice a week, working as extra eyes and ears, as Citizens on Patrol.
"A lot of times we're notified of places we have problems and we'll check those." says Paul, Citizens on Patrol.
"We have scanners, and we also have radios we can hear everything that's going on and there is a button that we can push if we need a help right away or if we see something," says Carol Hans, Citizens on Patrol.
Throughout the night, these residents will patrol the streets and make sure there's nothing going on around business establishments and other police hot spots.
On this particular night, they were called to a scene of an accident to help with traffic.
"As we check those spots, we put it down on the log sheet. The place, the time and if it clears then we put everything was ok," says Kay, Citizen on Patrol.
But when it's not ok, they immediately notify police, working together as a team for a safer community.



