Community Policing coordinator Linda Parker is among the first to dispute assertions that Prince George is "Canada's most dangerous city," but that doesn't mean she won't welcome volunteers to help out with various crime reduction initiatives.
In particular, the non-profit group always needs help with its Citizen On Patrol program that sees volunteers provide an additional set of eyes and ears for police by going out to report suspicious activity.
Parker is also looking for people to join a team provides assessments of how to better secure their buildings and property to homes and businesses. She's also welcoming homeowners and businesspeople to take up Community Policing's offer of the service.
"Some of the solutions will not cost you a lot of money," she said.
And Parker is continuing to encourage the establishment of Block Watch programs throughout the city and surrounding area. Based on the idea that a watchful neighbour is the best burglar alarm, the program's aim is to establish a communication chain for keeping an eye out for each other and reporting suspicious activity to police.
As well as being rated "Canada's most dangerous city" for the third year in a row, Prince George was also noted by Maclean's magazine for its prevalence of break and enters. For that offence, the city was rated the third highest at 925 incidents per 100,000 people in 2011.
Office coverage is also in need. Among the services volunteers provide at the 575 Brunswick St. office is making witness subpoenas available for pickup.
"That frees up an RCMP members time," Parker said. "They don't have to search for someone and continually try to find that person to serve that document.
"We offer them [witnesses] a friendly and warm environment here at community policing where they can come and pick up their subpoena."
Community Policing is also open to more support from the business community. Local businesses - real estate agent Ken Goss and auto dealer Wood Wheaton - have provided two vehicles for Community Policing and Load Em Up Petroleium is providing the fuel.
"We find ourselves continually in a position where we are looking towards the community for that support," Parker said.
Parker maintained the city's crime picture is not as bad as many may believe, arguing in part that prolific offenders on a crime spree while out of custody, can often skew the statistics. But she said the community coming together can help erase Prince George's dubious reputation.
"Everyone in Prince George has the ability to do something in that fight against crime," Parker said.
For more information, call 250-561-3366 or visit www.communitypolicing.princegeorge.ca.
