Published: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Day in the life: The eyes have it
Citizens Patrol volunteers give support to police
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Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW
Lynnwood Citizens Patrol volunteers Marianne Boesch (left) and Brian Bilger check their equipment inventory before leaving on patrol on Aug. 23 at the Lynnwood Police Department.
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Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW
Lynnwood Citizens Patrol volunteers Cheryl Tenney (left) and Seth Stone spot a misplaced disabled placard in a car located in a disabled parking space during their patrol, Aug. 23 in the parking lot behind Red Lobster in Lynnwood. They decided not to issue a ticket.
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Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW
Lynnwood Citizens Patrol volunteers Marianne Boesch (left) and Brian Bilger pull out in their vehicle to begin their patrol, Monday, August 23, 2010 at the Lynnwood Police Department.
LYNNWOOD -- Serving as an additional set of eyes is the leading role of the 70 volunteers in Lynnwood's Citizens Patrol. This group support police, fire, public works and parks personnel by responding to routine and unexpected events impacting public safety.
Working in teams of two the citizens patrol hits the streets of Lynnwood seven nights a week. Members of the volunteer corps mainly assist police officers in directing traffic. However their charge is also to jump start cars, open locked car doors, report graffiti and patrol target areas including construction spots where pricy equipment is parked.
Specialized bike units patrol park trails and shopping areas. Members have even given rides to people who have missed the last bus, and have recovered a newlywed's ring that had fallen into a grate.
The volunteer Citizens Patrol units are enabled to write tickets for drivers parked illegally in disabled spots and occasionally take care of children left stranded until a relative or Child Protective Services can respond.
“I want to help officers do their job,” said Elaine Solvang. “We can do the more mundane things and be there to support our officers.”
Varied backgrounds
The Citizens Patrol was inaugurated in 1996, and both men and women serve. Members are asked to give two shifts per month. The corps came close to 22,000 volunteer hours of service to the city in 2009.
Before gaining their commission each individual receives more than 160 hours of training, including one annual course in emergency vehicle operations on a closed course.
While most members may currently be working in the security field or studying criminal justice, their backgrounds are as varied as being a claims analyst for a freight forwarding company to a film producer. However the common denominator is the same - to serve the community.
“I joined because its a great way to give service to my community,” said Alice Purdy, a 12-year veteran of Citizens Patrol. She is also one of 10 Citizen Patrol members who have received the Lifetime Service Award from the office of the President of the United States.
Serving at unexpected events
While most shifts are spent directing traffic — 300 times in 2009 alone — the group has played a more active role in crime prevention. Patrol members have spotted DUIs and stolen vehicles, monitored school bus stops, contributed to hit-and-run investigations, located evidence debris at crime scenes and aided in locating suspects.
Three men were taken into custody in connection with a fourth man's slaying July 14 as a direct result of the extra eyes Citizens Patrol members bring. Police responded to reports of a fight at a Lynnwood apartment complex, and discovered a man's body.
As Citizen Patrol members Igor Nozdrin and Warner Adoga directed traffic around the scene, police interviewed witnesses. A vehicle drove by the complex with occupants that Nozdrin and Warner felt matched witness descriptions. They alerted officers and the three men were arrested at the scene.
“We both put our training and skills to work,” said Nozdrin, who is studying criminal justice. “Everything about them seemed suspicious. They were driving too fast, were very drunk and we noticed blood on hands. We added things together and called in an officer.”
In the moments following the Lynnview apartments fire Aug. 9, 18 Citizens Patrol members sprung into action. One member, Pat Anderson, was shopping nearby when the blaze broke out. Spotting the incident, she immediately donned her Citizens Patrol jacket and began directing traffic.
Additional members just came, arriving on the scene within five minutes, knowing their skills could be put to work.
As late as 10 p.m. Citizens Patrol members were guiding motorists around the fire hose lines. Some were still providing services through 5 a.m. the next morning. Their work load related to that single incident totaled 117 hours.
Day by day duties
More customary duties for Citizens Patrol members would be using law enforcement computers to look up license plates of suspicious vehicles, asking people to leave parks after hours and contacting people who may be in trouble.
“One shift Citizens Patrol contacted a man in a trash bin,” said Trudy Dana, crime prevention officer for Lynnwood Police Department, who directs the volunteer's efforts. “Another team was flagged down at (a shopping center) by people because a man was scaring people.”
“Citizens Patrol is a huge resource that is invaluable to police work” said Alan Correa who, as a Lynnwood police officer, routinely enjoys services the group provides. “Public safety is enhanced and they make us more efficient as a police department. They are there to direct traffic preventing another accident and help us to catch the bad guys besides being an extra set of eyes on the street.”
Citizen Patrol member Kelly Spade said her best moment with the group was participating in the recent Chief for a Day program where Puget Sound departments gathered to celebrate children who are challenged with health issues. During the event each child was given badges and certificates along with a chance to talk with police personnel.
“Besides seeing the children's faces, it was an honor to have our Citizen's Patrol car in the lead of the motorcade of all the chiefs at the event,” Spade said.
The volunteerism is significant, said Dana. Citizens Patrol members have been presented with 48 bronze, 10 silver and six gold Presidential Service Awards due to the number of hours given. During course the Citizens Patrol has been in operation, 10 of the members have received lifetime awards.
Working in teams of two the citizens patrol hits the streets of Lynnwood seven nights a week. Members of the volunteer corps mainly assist police officers in directing traffic. However their charge is also to jump start cars, open locked car doors, report graffiti and patrol target areas including construction spots where pricy equipment is parked.
Specialized bike units patrol park trails and shopping areas. Members have even given rides to people who have missed the last bus, and have recovered a newlywed's ring that had fallen into a grate.
The volunteer Citizens Patrol units are enabled to write tickets for drivers parked illegally in disabled spots and occasionally take care of children left stranded until a relative or Child Protective Services can respond.
“I want to help officers do their job,” said Elaine Solvang. “We can do the more mundane things and be there to support our officers.”
Varied backgrounds
The Citizens Patrol was inaugurated in 1996, and both men and women serve. Members are asked to give two shifts per month. The corps came close to 22,000 volunteer hours of service to the city in 2009.
Before gaining their commission each individual receives more than 160 hours of training, including one annual course in emergency vehicle operations on a closed course.
While most members may currently be working in the security field or studying criminal justice, their backgrounds are as varied as being a claims analyst for a freight forwarding company to a film producer. However the common denominator is the same - to serve the community.
“I joined because its a great way to give service to my community,” said Alice Purdy, a 12-year veteran of Citizens Patrol. She is also one of 10 Citizen Patrol members who have received the Lifetime Service Award from the office of the President of the United States.
Serving at unexpected events
While most shifts are spent directing traffic — 300 times in 2009 alone — the group has played a more active role in crime prevention. Patrol members have spotted DUIs and stolen vehicles, monitored school bus stops, contributed to hit-and-run investigations, located evidence debris at crime scenes and aided in locating suspects.
Three men were taken into custody in connection with a fourth man's slaying July 14 as a direct result of the extra eyes Citizens Patrol members bring. Police responded to reports of a fight at a Lynnwood apartment complex, and discovered a man's body.
As Citizen Patrol members Igor Nozdrin and Warner Adoga directed traffic around the scene, police interviewed witnesses. A vehicle drove by the complex with occupants that Nozdrin and Warner felt matched witness descriptions. They alerted officers and the three men were arrested at the scene.
“We both put our training and skills to work,” said Nozdrin, who is studying criminal justice. “Everything about them seemed suspicious. They were driving too fast, were very drunk and we noticed blood on hands. We added things together and called in an officer.”
In the moments following the Lynnview apartments fire Aug. 9, 18 Citizens Patrol members sprung into action. One member, Pat Anderson, was shopping nearby when the blaze broke out. Spotting the incident, she immediately donned her Citizens Patrol jacket and began directing traffic.
Additional members just came, arriving on the scene within five minutes, knowing their skills could be put to work.
As late as 10 p.m. Citizens Patrol members were guiding motorists around the fire hose lines. Some were still providing services through 5 a.m. the next morning. Their work load related to that single incident totaled 117 hours.
Day by day duties
More customary duties for Citizens Patrol members would be using law enforcement computers to look up license plates of suspicious vehicles, asking people to leave parks after hours and contacting people who may be in trouble.
“One shift Citizens Patrol contacted a man in a trash bin,” said Trudy Dana, crime prevention officer for Lynnwood Police Department, who directs the volunteer's efforts. “Another team was flagged down at (a shopping center) by people because a man was scaring people.”
“Citizens Patrol is a huge resource that is invaluable to police work” said Alan Correa who, as a Lynnwood police officer, routinely enjoys services the group provides. “Public safety is enhanced and they make us more efficient as a police department. They are there to direct traffic preventing another accident and help us to catch the bad guys besides being an extra set of eyes on the street.”
Citizen Patrol member Kelly Spade said her best moment with the group was participating in the recent Chief for a Day program where Puget Sound departments gathered to celebrate children who are challenged with health issues. During the event each child was given badges and certificates along with a chance to talk with police personnel.
“Besides seeing the children's faces, it was an honor to have our Citizen's Patrol car in the lead of the motorcade of all the chiefs at the event,” Spade said.
The volunteerism is significant, said Dana. Citizens Patrol members have been presented with 48 bronze, 10 silver and six gold Presidential Service Awards due to the number of hours given. During course the Citizens Patrol has been in operation, 10 of the members have received lifetime awards.