“They’re acting as an extra set of eyes for the police,” Guelph Police Const. Michael Gatto said of the role of the organization.

In this way, the organization might seem similar to Neighbourhood Watch, but the two have different mandates, explained Gatto.

Neighbourhood Watch operates on the simple premise of neighbours watching out for each other.

Volunteer Patrol members actually go out in cars on patrol to act as a presence in areas of the city where police feel they might be useful, said Gatto. “Our main concern is the schools,” said patrol chairperson Andrea Burger. “We patrol all city parks as well . . . anything Guelph Police asks us to do.”

Burger joined the organization seven years ago. “I joined in order to help get rid of some crime in the old neighbourhood I used to live in,” she said.

The organization started in 1996 with the primary objective of reducing crime through deterrence and active prevention.

Currently, the group has about 25 volunteer members whose primary job when on patrol is to move through neighbourhoods, observe and report to police any suspicious activity.

“As a volunteer, it can be dangerous, but safety has always been a top priority,” Burger said.

Volunteers undergo background checks and an interview before being allowed to patrol, she said.

They also take part in a one-hour orientation session, in which they learn observation tips and procedures to keep themselves safe. Volunteers always patrol in groups of two or more, and new recruits must go out with an experienced volunteer for at least the first patrol, said Burger.

While on patrol, the volunteers wear Guelph Community Volunteer Patrol T-shirts and their cars are adorned with a magnetic logo to help identify them to the public as members of the patrol.

“We’ve been able to deter a lot of crime,” said Burger.

Graffiti, underage drinking and public drunkenness are some examples of the types of crimes that the patrollers encounter on a regular basis.

Armed with cellphones, they maintain regular contact with the police and they have yet to experience any problems with volunteers being hurt during patrol, said Burger.

“A lot of our volunteers are in the police foundations course as well,” she said, noting that volunteers are also encouraged to use common sense to avoid dangerous situations.

Many of the volunteers involved in patrolling hope to become police officers, and they gain valuable practical experience as well as community involvement.

More recently, the organization has increased the scope of its work, taking on a more prominent community oriented role.

The volunteers provide security at events such as Ribfest and Hillside Festival. They are also responsible for Sunday morning bike pickups, as well as getting the abandoned bikes ready for police auction.

“We really want people to know who we are,” because that awareness will help with crime deterrence, said Burger. But the volunteers also appreciate recognition for the work they do.

A recent incident involved the volunteers discovering two girls who had been drinking. The girls were taken to hospital and treated for alcohol poisoning. A few days later, a letter arrived from the girls’ parents, thanking the patrol for being there and intervening.

“My volunteers put in a lot of hard work,” but they believe in the job they’re doing, said Burger.

For more information about the volunteer group, visit www.guelphcvp.ca