After reviving the Citizens On Patrol Program late last year, the Okotoks RCMP is reporting great success for the revamped program.

Sgt. Sukh Randhawa says they've had quite the response of volunteers since they started giving out application forms.

"We now have 22 COP volunteers who are working in conjunction with the RCMP touring the community from time to time, mostly they are patrolling on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights," he says. "They are the extra eyes and ears for the RCMP.

He says the COP program is gaining more steam in the community and now the RCMP is in spot where they can watch from a distance as they get set to create a permanent board of directors.

"The board has really worked hard in the past to get the program off the ground and bringing it to such a successful stage that we're comfortable now that there's going to be AGM elections on April 18th to permanently select the board."

Members of the RCMP helped the board on it's start until numerous volunteers had enough training and experience for them to work off on their own.

Randhawa says there's plenty of room for more Citizens On Patrol.

"Pick up an application at the front counter, the application is filled out followed by a criminal record check and if they pass everything the application is forwarded to the president or vice-president for the individual to be contacted for training and once the training is complete they're put on schedule for patrol."

The COP AGM goes April 18 at the Rotary Room in the Centennial Centre at 7 p.m.

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