Last week we told you about the 3 day orientation for the Citizens on Patrol Program where the community is working along with the police to restore and maintain peace. Well today, 13 cop volunteers were deployed to patrol the Mahogany Street Extension and Vernon Street as well as in the Jane Usher area. Courtney Weatherburne caught up with the cop teams in these areas to find out more about the initiative and the reaction from residents:
Courtney Weatherburne reporting
Usually, when you see officers on the street whether it is walking or patrolling in their vehicles, it is not to conduct surveys or to connect with the residents. But today the Citizens on Patrol did just that. It was the first day of patrol for the volunteer cops in Belize City and we found them on Mahogany Street Extension.
Sheree Lord, Volunteer, COP
"It's just a voluntary program where we come out, we have a questionnaire where we ask the household a questionnaire to get their feedback to see how they interact with the police department and how they feel with the police department in their neighborhood. It's just an initiative to help to work with the community. There will be COP all over the place after today, but this is a just a first initiative to see how the community will respond to the COP in their neighborhood."
Well according to Vernon street resident Patrick Smith, who also assists his community by cooking for the youths in his area, the response is quite favorable.
Patrick Smith, Vernon Street Resident
"I like them because they are around to make us feel safer that the children will change to see that people re into them."
And it was much the same in the Fabers Road and Jane Usher area.
Keisha Coye, Volunteer, COP
"The reaction so far is exciting. When they see us they wave especially the elderly. The children they wave, some run, I don't know why and the Chinese they smile, I guess because they feel comfortable."
And while today is the first day of the patrol, it'll take some time to determine if it can mend the tattered relationship between community and police, and if the police high command committed enough to see it through.
There are currently 25 members of the cop program in Belize City. There are cop programs in Punta Gorda and Orange Walk as well.
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