OLIVER CRIME WATCH NEEDS VOLUNTEERS.

In 2014 Oliver Crime Watch (Citizens on Patrol) put in 539 man hours and travelled 3737 kms on 112 patrols in the town. We provided security (manned the barricades) for the Sunshine Days and November 11 Remembrance Day parades. We also sent out 5 patrols on Halloween and had our personnel spend over night at the cemetery for the Candle Light Vigil.

We set up the radar speed board 57 times in the past year. This was set up mainly in the school zones to inform motorists about their speed (not everyone watches their speed odometer). We also set up radar sites (without the speed board) in response to complaints from citizens about the high rates of speed in their areas.

The Oliver Crime/Speed Watch is comprised of citizens who volunteer their time, vehicles, energy and expertise to become the extended eyes and ears of our local RCMP Detachment. Half of our volunteers come from outside the town boundaries (Willow Brook, Vaseaux Lake and Gallagher Lake). Unfortunately our numbers are dwindling usually due to age related ailments such as hip and knee replacements (unable to stand or sit for extended periods of time), cataracts (night vision problems) and various illnesses but also to changes in RCMP policy regarding the use of civilian volunteers. This is adversely affecting all COP groups in BC and I imagine in all of Canada too.

Notwithstanding the above difficulties there is still a need for diligence from the public. We (Crime/Speed Watch) are like the normal citizen – we can only observe and report and not expected to get directly involved if an offence is observed. The only difference is that we are organized.

If you are interested in joining Crime Watch and/or Speed Watch or would just like more information please contact me at olivercrimewatch@gmail.com or go to the RCMP station for an application.

Ron Johnson

Oliver Crime Watch Program Coordinator