Opportunity to resume relations

The Westside Neighborhood Watch has the opportunity to resume relations with the police department. I think that this is a great idea, the department can provide the neighborhood with many resources that can benefit us and them. And we can in return help them help us keep our neighborhood safe. This can also benefit our children in the neighborhood and can give us the opportunity to start programs that can benefit us in many aspects of our lives. The only request that we have is that the past stays in the past. Bringing up past subjects can only cause us to backslide and not to progress and grow as a Neighborhood Watch. We should also join forces with other Neighborhood Watches in our town and surrounding towns to trade ideas and resources. The Watch has the chance to grow and to improve the quality of life if only we have the interest and participation of those of us that have the desire to better our community. I say that we take this chance and run with it.

Shawnee Sentinel Program

The topic tonight that was sponsored by the Shawnee Pd., was on the proposal of a Sentinel program based on the program in Lawton, Oklahoma that was formed in 1992. Steve Martin was the guest speaker along with three of Lawton's Sentinel volunteer's. The following is a rundown on what a sentinel is, what they do, their training, and what you have to do to become one.

A Sentinel is a volunteer who works with the police at no additional cost to the citizens.

Some of the things that Citizen Sentinel volunteer's to do is: Help with traffic control, residence checks during the day when someone is on vacation, an escort of a funeral procession,officer assist, assists with court records, impounds, offence reports,playground checks,parking tickets and much much more.
A Sentinel is required to work at least 16 hours a month, they do not carry any defensive weapons, and works in a two man team.

A Sentinel receives training in the following areas: Traffic Control, Geography of the town area, Radio communication, patrol procedures, report writing, vehicle maintenance, Sentinel's also go through 40 hours of in the field training: CPR, Hazmat/blood borne pathogens, and defensive driving just to name a few.

If a person is interested in becoming a Sentinel you must go through the Citizens Police Academy, be 21 years of age and older, complete an application, have a background check, and do an interview with a panel of police officers and previous sentinels.

If you want to know more about the Shawnee Police Department and how they function, join the next Citizen Police Academy and let's get together to make this town a safer place to be.