Avondale Estates May Try Fighting Crime With 'Citizen Patrols'

Avondale Estates may try to reduce crime with a "mobile neighborhood watch."

The city commission will talk about Citizen Patrols during a work session that starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in city hall.

A memo to the commission says, "The program is entirely non-confrontational, having members contact 911 and report their observations."

Though the commission hasn't decided whether to authorize the idea, a 10-page policy and procedure manual has already been compiled. (You can read it by going to the City of Avondale Estates web page and clicking on the "agenda items" link for the May 15 meeting, found in the meetings/agenda/audios/minutes section.)

The manual says Citizen Patrol members would be volunteers who graduate from the Citizens Police Academy, a free, multi-week class in which residents learn how the department works. Decatur also offers a citizens public safety academy in September.

Patrol members would drive a decommissioned city police car around town during four-hour shifts.

The car would be marked "Citizen Patrol" and have an amber-colored light bar but be stripped of other police equipment.

Patrol members would not carry weapons of any kind. They'd have to supply light tan or khaki pants and shorts and black or brown shoes with black or navy socks. The clothing would be worn with an issued navy shirt.

The city would issue identification cards to be returned when they leave the program.

Decatur has a program called Citizens Assisting Public Safety (CAPS) comprising some graduates of the citizens academy. They help police during festivals and other public events, assist in disaster response and provide a presence in the  business district.

Do you think it's a good idea to put Citizen Patrols in a city car?