Courtesy Photo
COP(s) members John Smith, Diane Salz and Ed Hughes patrol the streets during last year’s Duvall Days. The successful Citizens on Patrol program started six years ago in an attempt to deal with large numbers of youths on the streets on Friday nights.

Streets quieter due to citizen involvement

COP(s) in Duvall have worked themselves out of a job. And that’s good.

The COP(s) program (Citizens on Patrol) was started in the Duvall area almost six years ago.

“Some businesses were having problems with lots of kids,” said Barb Smith, coordinator for the program. “Mostly they were an annoyance to businesses,” she explained, “with some graffiti and uprooting of trees and plants.”

The Chamber of Commerce invited Police Chief Glenn Merryman to a meeting to problem-solve the issue. At the time more than 50 kids in groups would be out on the streets on a typical Friday night, just hanging around, creating a potential for trouble.

“I challenged them (the chamber members),” he said recently. He told chamber members that he would give up his Friday nights if they would. The result was that 15-20 adults started hanging out too.

That decision to get involved in the community had great outcomes.

“With the face-to-face interaction, they (business owners) found that most kids were good, and would even walk with us,” said Merryman. “Kids were impressed that adults would take time to spend their nights being a COP.”

Now, six years later, by 9 p.m., not a kid is to be found on the streets.

COP(s) still exists though. “I still think it’s important,” said Merryman. “I still find value in showing up.”

COP(s) are present at all Cedarcrest football games, the Christmas tree lighting, Duvall Days and Sandblast, and of course many Friday nights, just walking the streets and parks. The volunteers get t-shirts and coats to identify them as a COP(s) member.

“The idea was brought to my church,” said Smith. “My husband and I started walking.” Smith ended up being appointed leader, and then that evolved into her being the official volunteer program coordinator for all police volunteer positions.

“I loved getting to know the kids over the years,” said Smith.

Although at first most COP(s) members were business owners, they were later joined by City Council members, parents, grandparents and citizens at large. Many COP(s) members saw this as a way to give back to their community, logging in hundreds of hours on Friday evenings. The adult presence is all it took for the kids to find out that they cared about the kids.

“I have made sure to tell them how proud I am, and make a big deal about their accomplishments,” said Smith. “I think it’s a positive influence with them, and they associate us with the police department.”

“I thought the program would last about six months,” said Merryman. “But it looks like the COP(s) are going to continue walking the streets with the kids.”

Community members interested in becoming a Citizen on Patrol can contact Barb Smith at (425) 788-1519, and learn more at a March 9th meeting.