Friday, Jul. 11, 2008

Citizens on Patrol

FM Emergency Services Volunteer Programs Showcased

By John English

Contributing Writer

The Flower Mound Police Department [FMPD] hosted an event last week to showcase the capabilities of the community’s Citizen Patrol Group [CPG] and Community Emergency Response Team [CERT], along with the top-of-the-line equipment they use.

The Fair and Equipment Expo last week marked the one-year anniversary of the Emergency Services Volunteer Assistance program.

“This event has several different aspects to it,” Lt. Wendell Mitchell said. “Our Citizens Patrol Group had one full year of service in March. ... We started out with about a dozen folks, and now we are up to 68 volunteers. We’re also here today to give citizens the opportunity to see all the different vehicles that we have acquired that our citizen volunteers are using.”

That equipment includes a Skywatch Tower, a patrol car, and a CERT and CPG pickup.

“Each vehicle out here, with the exception of the patrol car, was obtained through seized assets,” Mitchell said. “Whether it was through the IRS task force that we are a member of, or – like the truck we have – was taken from a drug dealer. These things are here at whatever minimal cost there may be for court-filing fees. ... There’s no cost to taxpayers.”

Mitchell said the event was also an opportunity to see the different volunteer opportunities available to citizens through such groups as the CPG and CERT programs.

“We have gotten now where they have become entrenched as part of our program,” Mitchell said about the CPG. “If they were to go away tomorrow, we would still continue on, but it would be a lot more work that we [FMPD staff] would have to do. For the Fire Department, the CERT team … provides essential assistance to these guys so they can do their jobs. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.”

The CPG is a group made up of residents who have taken the Citizens Police Academy 12-week course.

Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association President Lowell McCracken said he is impressed with the equipment that the CPG can use.

“A lot of Police Department’s would like to have what Chief [Kenneth] Brooker has gotten for us,” McCracken said. “We want people to know that the Police Department is active with their citizenry, that they have a program where their citizens can become involved with them. It’s a great deal and a great opportunity to serve.”

According to a news release: “The CPG is charged with conducting patrols and reporting suspicious activity to Flower Mound police, as well as assisting with functions such as home security inspections, motorist assists, traffic control at special events, crime prevention programs like ‘McGruff,’ and school zone monitoring.” Mitchell said the CPG is just one facet of the department’s overall volunteer program.

Doug Graves, a team leader with the Flower Mound CERT program, said the team works with both Police and Fire departments to provide services to the town in the event of a crisis or natural disaster. He said he applauds the departments’ efforts to provide the team with the materials they need.

“I like to boast on us, because I think we are one of the best-equipped teams we have in the area,” Graves said. “We are lucky to work with a town that is diligent about getting us equipment and putting equipment to use for us.”

Visit www.flower-mound.com for more information on Police and Fire departments volunteer organizations.