A new Citizens on Patrol group is forming in Oxbow, with the aim of increasing community safety and supporting local RCMP.
Tara Allen, who is spearheading the initiative, said the idea came after she was approached by a member of the community familiar with the success of a similar program in Alida.
“They asked if I’d be willing to get it started here, and we felt it would be a benefit to the community,” Allen said.
The group will serve as “the eyes and ears” of the RCMP, patrolling in pairs either by foot or vehicle. Volunteers will be tasked with observing and reporting any suspicious activity, taking notes and photos, and serving as a visible deterrent to crime.
Volunteers will be required to undergo a criminal record check and complete training facilitated by the RCMP.
“There’s training involved around what you can and can’t do legally, how to radio into dispatch, and how to check in and out when on patrol,” Allen explained.
Interest in the program has exceeded expectations.
“Our numbers are close to 50,” Allen said. “I’ve been getting phone calls constantly.”
To help inform the public, the group is hosting an information session on Friday, May 9 in Oxbow. The session is open to residents of surrounding communities as well, including Gainsborough, where interest is also growing. Those who attend can begin the application process that night, including filling out forms and getting identification notarized for the criminal record check.
The initiative has come together quickly. Allen said she agreed to start the program just two weeks ago, and since announcing it on Facebook, the response has been overwhelming.
“I didn’t think it would take off as fast as it did,” she said. “But the phone rang off the hook.”
Once the paperwork is processed, the board of directors will meet May 13 to finalize numbers and assess what’s needed to get up and running. Thanks to support from local businesses, the group has financial backing to purchase necessary equipment. ID badges and photos will be arranged, and the hope is to begin active patrols by the end of May.
Allen said the goal is to reduce crime and help residents feel safer in their own community.
“Crime has gone up everywhere—it’s not just Oxbow. We’re hoping this will be a deterrent and bring those numbers down.”