Agreed. I know a lot of folks who participate in our Citizen's Patrol program, and they run the gamut of backgrounds: retired advertising guy, funeral home owner, stay-at-home mom whose kids have now gone to school, retired grandmother & school teacher, etc... It's not the 'wannabe cop' type of folks at all. They just want to provide a service to our community of 933 homes here in West Houston. They simply ride around the neighborhood during the day with HPD on speed dial for two hours a month.n5wd wrote:No, most people don't need a badge to be able to tell right or wrong, but a lot of folk, who want to be of some extra service to their communities or neighborhoods, either can't devote the time/money to get and maintain reserve officers commissions, or they may not be physically able to get through the academy, or may be too old in order to qualify for a reserve commission. Lots of reasons why someone may choose to participate in one of the neighborhood watch/Code Blue programs. A tip of my hat to those that do!ScottDLS wrote:If I wanted to participate in law enforcement on a volunteer basis I would do the full Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards training. Thereby be able to be sworn reserve deputy in my county. As a citizen and military vet I keep an eye out for my community. I'm armed and willing to use force against the "bad guys". I don't need a badge to tell right from wrong, though I support those who wear the badge/uniform.
My wife and I would gladly join in, adding four more hours of eyes per month in the 'hood, but neither of us is willing to disarm for that purpose. We have no desire to be law enforcement, but we do see the value this service has for our neighborhood.
If they would allow us to do so, we'd be armed and willing to use our mobile phones against the "bad guys".ScottDLS wrote:I'm armed and willing to use force against the "bad guys".