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Citizens on Patrol
The Citizens On Patrol (C.O.P.) program provides a way
for civilians to support the Sheriff's office as additional
eyes and ears in your neighborhood and village. To build a
Citizens On Patrol team in your area, at least five homeowners
must commit to volunteer, pass a background
check and complete 22 hours of training. One person must
pledge to be the Team Leader. Renters may also volunteer
if they have two years of rental history at their residence.
Once the application process is complete and everyone has
successfully finished the required steps, each volunteer will
receive a uniform, and one marked vehicle will be provided
to the group. This vehicle stays within the neighborhood or
village area as defined by the group's C.O.P. program.
This program comes with access to additional crime-
related statistics online and direct access to a dispatcher to
request paramedics, deputies or fire department personnel
when on patrol.
The Team Leader is the liaison between the Citizens On Patrol
Coordinator and the volunteers in their defined area. His/her
duties include patrolling as well as necessary administrative
tasks, attending regular meetings at the Sheriff's office and
keeping the assigned vehicle maintained.
To keep the program active, volunteers must regularly offer
their time to drive the marked vehicle through the neighborhood
to look for any suspicious activity so they can report
it. Patrol schedules are not predetermined. Volunteers have
flexibility to coordinate use of the vehicle so each can serve
during times that work within their schedules.
If your neighborhood already has a C.O.P. program, House
Check services are available to you. With House Checks, you
can request a C.O.P. volunteer to check on
your home when you're away.
Interested in forming a Citizens
On Patrol program in your own
neighborhood or village?
Contact Awilda McBryde,
Citizens On Patrol Coordinator
a t: 407-254-7342 •
Awilda.McBryde2@ocfl.net
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TIP 1
EMERGENCY: 9-1-1
NON-EMERGENCY: 407-836-4357
If you see suspicious activity, call it in every single time!
OCSO keeps records of calls to help resolve reported
issues. Plus, the amount of coverage for our area is tied
to reported activities. Add the non-emergency number to
your phone contacts so it's always handy.
TIP 2
OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND
DON'T INVITE THEM TO YOUR PORCH
Invest in a mail/ship account to use for deliveries
instead of having them left on your porch where they are
vulnerable to those looking for an easy theft opportunity.
In Horizon West, this service is available at ScribbleSpace
TIP and the UPS Stores. 3
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION
IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE
Request a free Residential Security Assessment by OCSO
Crime Prevention Unit to receive a risk evaluation and
crime prevention tips on lighting, shrubbery,
door locks and more.
TIP 4
EMBRACE THE WALKABILITY
OF OUR UNIQUE COMMUNITY
The design of Horizon West purposefully places
amenities and schools within walking distance of most
homes, so when you're traveling by car please look more
closely around you and expect people to be out walking
and biking. Save the high speeds for the 429!
TIP 5
PUT YOUR PHONE TO WORK
WITH THESE 3 TIPS
Add an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact to your
phone, install the OCFL 311 App where you can
report non-emergency issues like problems with traffic
signals and sidewalks in need of repair, and finally visit
OCSO.com for a wealth of safety info!
TIP 6
EMERGENCY: 9-1-1
NON-EMERGENCY: 407-836-4357
Avoid spreading speculation or incident details on
social media. Always contact OCSO first to share what
you know. They can update you with any information
cleared for the public.
/
/OCSO.com
link