Paul Robertson is with the Battlefords COPP group. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Hope for provincial COPP group

Battlefords Citizens on Patrol to meet with other communities to discuss provincial group

Feb 28, 2024 | 5:08 PM

The Battlefords Citizens on Patrol Program (COPP) group is gearing up to get together with representatives from a number of other communities in the area, with the hope to develop a provincial COPP group.

The event will take place at Smiley’s Buffet and Event Centre in Saskatoon on March 3.

Battlefords COPP vice-chair Paul Robertson presented as a delegation at North Battleford council’s meeting this week to discuss the plan.

He noted the event will include a number of guest speakers, including Sgt. Rob Cozine, Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers coordinator, who has also acted as the provincial liaison for COPP and Rural Crime Watch for several years.

The Battlefords COPP’s aim is to confirm how much interest there is and the process involved to form a provincial COPP association, and to help interested communities form their own COPP groups.

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The COPP groups in the Battlefords, Nipawin, Wilkie, Yorkton and Candle Lake plan to participate in the inaugural provincial meeting of COPP groups and communities interested in forming a COPP group of their own.

“Some of them just want to start out with COPP, and they don’t know what to do,” Robertson said, adding that the Battlefords COPP chair Doug Fehr will head the meeting. “There is lots to talk about and there are many groups that want to start a COPP [group in their area]. There are many groups that have them, but they have faded.”

He hopes there is a good turn out for the meeting.

Robertson also mentioned that a benefit of having a provincial COPP group is that there will be more funding available to support the various COPP volunteer groups’ work in helping prevent crime.

He noted the Battlefords COPP’s dedicated patrol vehicle has also garnered interest among other communities.

“It’s working out quite well,” Robertson said.

He added that the benefit of the patrol vehicle is that it can help deter crime, and makes residents feel safer when they see it in their neighbourhoods.

“They all think we’re making a difference,” Robertson said. “When we’re travelling at night and seeing groups or suspicious activity, they see the vehicle and they disappear. It does what we intended it to do, to [act as a] deterrent.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow