Safe Communities Programs

Speedwatch
This group of volunteers dedicate their time operating a radar and speed display setting up in school zones and areas where speeding vehicles have been observed. This is an awareness program designed to clearly show the speeds of vehicles as they travel the community streets. This program has been sponsored by the Safe Communities Unit in partnership with ICBC. The Vernon and District Speed Watch volunteers for 2006 donated 398 hours and checked 61,763 vehicles…. That’s from the end of March to the end of October – 7 months. Since its inception in 1998 they have donated over 1800 hours and checked in excess of 398,000 vehicles.

Crime Stoppers
This program's goal is to combat crime through the cooperative efforts of the police, the media, and residents of our community. People with information can contact the Crime Stoppers tip line at 549-TIPS (8477) and remain completely anonymous. Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards to any person whose information leads to an arrest, recovery of stolen property, or the seizure of drugs. The Crime Stoppers board, composed of community volunteers, establish policy, raise funds, and oversee award payments. Unsolved crimes are featured with assistance of the local media and, in some cases, will include a re-enactment which would be aired on TV. Crime Stoppers is supported by donations from individuals, companies, service groups, and organized fund raising activities.

Citizens on Patrol
Dedicated community volunteers from Vernon, BX, Coldstream, and Lavington who act as "eyes and ears" only using their own vehicles to patrol their respective communities. They are asked to work one 5 hour shift per month starting at 10:00pm through to 3:00am. They are equipped with cell phones, police scanners, and UHF radios. Fuel costs are paid through the Safe Communities Unit and solely supported through funding provided from the City of Vernon. The Vernon and District Citizens on Patrol program volunteers have donated 4180 hours for 2006 and drove 38,590 km during their patrols. Since their start in 1992 the Citizens on Patrol Program volunteers have donated over 60,080 hours on patrol and driven in excess of 512,000 km.

D.A.R.E. Program
D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a prevention program designed to equip elementary school children with skills to recognize and resist social pressures to experiment with tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. This unique program was first developed in 1983 and uses uniformed law enforcement officers to teach a formal curriculum to students in a classroom setting. D.A.R.E gives special attention to fifth and sixth grade students to prepare them for entry into middle/high school where they are most likely to encounter pressure to use drugs. During this 10 week core curriculum the students also learn about friendship foundations, peer pressure, personal pressure, ways to be in charge (say no) and how to use a decision making model to make wise choices.

Find out more about Vernon's D.A.R.E. program.

CITY OF VERNON RCMP SAFE COMMUNITIES UNIT PROGRAMS

  • District of Coldstream Community Policing Office
  • City of Vernon Community Policing Office
  • Citizens on Patrol
  • Speed Watch
  • Block Watch
  • Vernon and District Crimestoppers
  • Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
  • Community Response Network Advisory Committee on Elder Abuse
  • Restorative Justice Advisory Committee
  • Meth Awareness Steering Committee
  • Traffic Safety Advisory Committee
  • Cycling Safety Steering Committee
  • Children, Youth and Families Advisory Committee
  • Emergency Planning Group
  • Falls Prevention Steering Committee
  • Volunteer Coordinator’s Steering Committee
  • Youth Criminal Justice Advisory Committee
  • Partners in a Safe and Healthy Community Committee
  • Suicide Prevention Steering Committee
  • General Safety presentations
  • Personal Safety presentations
  • Frauds, Cons and Scams prevention
  • Counterfeit detection and prevention program
  • Shoplifting detection and prevention program (Operation Boost)
  • Armed Robbery prevention
  • Stay Alert – Stay Safe Program
  • Eddie the Eagle Program
  • Hug a Tree Program
  • Workplace safety Program
  • Residential security audits
  • Business security audits
  • Sexual Assault Awareness Program
  • Safety for Developmentally Challenged
  • Auto Crime prevention program
  • Block Captain program
  • Property Reference program
  • Ski Watch program
  • Operation Cats Paw… Pawnshop program