Barrie Police Service in partnership with our community is committed to serving the needs of the citizens of Barrie by providing an efficient and effective level of service through crime prevention and protection programs

This program is designed to provide an opportunity for approved individuals to participate in the observation and reporting of any criminal or potentially criminal activity to Barrie Police Service.  These volunteers become the ‘eyes and ears’ for Barrie Police while on patrol.

This program does not promote, require or ask for any involvement of members in the apprehension of criminals. The purpose is solely to observe and report – to be the ‘eyes and ears’ for Barrie Police Service.

A volunteer is anyone who, without compensation or expectation of compensation, performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of Barrie Police Service’s Volunteer Program – Citizens on Patrol (COP).

Volunteers, in liaison with Barrie Police Service, operate the COP program. Volunteers are vital to its success and provide patrols with the utmost priority placed on safety. The program is currently operating with a civilian patrol coordinator and a police liaison.

The civilian patrol coordinator works with the Police Liaison Officer on matters dealing with the program. Other duties include organizing meetings and promoting the program. The civilian coordinator has a list of COP members and organizes the weekly patrols. Members phone the coordinator to register themselves in for a night or day patrol. Both coordinators then communicate with each other to determine if a volunteer will be able to go out for that particular patrol. Weather conditions, as well as the availability of members, are what determine if a patrol will be on the road.

We request each member to contact the coordinator to register for a patrol, rather than the coordinator calling you. Your coordinator will only call you if you haven’t met your commitment to the program and haven’t communicated to the coordinator any absence you may require.

Volunteers must be able to work in a team setting, take direction from senior patrol members or police officers. You must also as obey rules of the program as laid out in the training manual or otherwise communicated to the member.

For more information download the information package or contact the Barrie Police Crime Prevention Unit at 705-725-7025 Ext. 2919.