The Idaho Falls Police Citizens Watch Patrol
(CWP) is a unit within the Idaho Falls Citizens Police
Academy Alumni Association (IFCPA3) and has been serving the community
of Idaho Falls, Idaho since the fall of 2001. In the spring of 2002 the
Idaho Falls Police Department CWP started providing scheduled street
patrols and support services to police officers in the Idaho Falls
community. CWP is a name used
to describe a special group of Law Enforcement Volunteers. The CWP
program is a highly structured volunteer program for interested citizens
who volunteer their time as a non-sworn, non-paid member of the Alumni
Association.
The structure and
supervision of the CWP program interfaces and receives direction from
the IFPD Lieutenant and Citizen Volunteer Coordinator. Field supervision
is provided by the IFPD Duty Watch Commander, Sergeants and Patrol
Officers. The CWP has a defined organizational structure, led by the CWP
Commanders and advisers that meet regularly with the IFPD to work
together as a management team, to evaluate the effectiveness of the
program, monitor and develop policies specific to the CWP and handle any
disciplinary matters. The entire membership meets monthly.
The effectiveness of a
Law Enforcement Volunteer organization within our community has proven
itself time and again. The annual reports indicate just how valuable an
organization like this is to a community and city government. These
volunteers work and train hard to live up to the high standard of our
Police Department. These special volunteers have developed the expertise
in areas of:
-
Removal of abandoned
or stored vehicles on city streets,
-
Accident scenes,
performing assistance to officers and conducting traffic control,
-
Graffiti removal from
business and neighborhood buildings,
-
Crime Scene Security,
limiting access of personal, sitting on crime scene 24/7 until the
fire department investigator and/or law enforcement crime scene
personal release the crime scene,
-
First Responder to
accident scenes, radio contact with dispatch to request help at that
location. Checks for injuries and keeps accident scene safe from
traffic flow,
-
Certified as
Community Emergency Response Training (CERT). Federal program
certification in Emergency Response situations in the nation,
-
CWP member certified
as First Aid/CPR instructor to train CWP personal,
-
Community Vacation
Watch (house check) program,
-
Active within the
Neighborhood Watch program,
-
Taking Spanish
classes to communicate within the Spanish community,
-
Fund raisers, safety
bike rodeos and business partnership openings within the community
for CWP name recognition and to raise money for operational
expenses,
-
Community events: Art
shows at the river, Boo at the Zoo, Community night out, Duck Race,
Beauty Pageants, Fourth of July Fireworks, Parade and Flag Walk.
The CWP received two
“retired” IFPD patrol vehicles. These vehicles were stripped with
“Citizens Watch Patrol” on the front doors, rear trunk lid and “Idaho
Falls Police Department" on the rear doors. Top lights were changed from
red and blue to amber. In the spring of 2003 IFPD applied for a grant
and procured a new All Terrain Vehicle (ATV), complete with amber lights
on top, equipped with a police radio, community partnership and police
markings. This ATV vehicle is used to patrol our green belt, city parks,
parades and special events. In 2006, we purchased two bicycles to patrol
our city parks and green belt. By using the ATV and bikes we have been
able to put an extra set of eyes and ears on the street to help report
and prevent crime within our community. In addition the ATV and bikes
are a great public relations tool, it puts the CWP members in touch with
visitors to our community to answer questions pertaining to locations of
hospitals, shopping malls, library, museums, city parks, special events
and directions to restaurants and hotels.
In 2003, the IFCPA3 applied for and received a 501-c-3 tax exempt status
from the state of Idaho. Beginning expense and startup costs for the CWP
program were made available from the Idaho Falls Police Department and
volunteer members. The IFCPA3 and CWP have organized fund raisers (since
2003) within the community businesses to generate donations for
operational expenses. Applying for and receiving grants, plus formation
of partnership programs with corporations like US Cellular and Alltel
Corporation, will serve to be a great opportunity for this program and
the community of Idaho Falls. |
