Roanoke Police Department
C.A.R.E. Patrol
The Crime Abatement Residential Effort (C.A.R.E.) Patrol is a partnership between the Roanoke Police Department, United States Cellular and the citizens of Roanoke. Using cellular phones and airtime donated by United States Cellular, citizen volunteers patrol Roanoke's neighborhoods and call in reports of suspicious or criminal activity, fire and medical emergencies, and public works problems. The program graduated its first group of 14 team members in September 1997.
C.A.R.E. Team Members act as extra eyes and ears for police, fire and rescue personnel. Team members who observe an incident use preprogrammed buttons on their cellular phones to contact city dispatchers. Team members provide vital information to dispatchers and responding personnel, but do not confront suspects or intervene in incidents.
Team members always patrol in groups of two or more. At least one team member must live in the neighborhood being patrolled. Each patrol group determines its patrol area, dates, times and means of transportation.
The C.A.R.E. Patrol is administered and coordinated by citizens, with support and guidance by the Police Department. An elected citizen steering committee of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and ex-officio police liaison set program policies and parameters.
Training
Before becoming team members, volunteers undergo more than ten hours of comprehensive training at the Roanoke Police Academy on topics including:
· Understanding 911
· Patrol Procedures
· Cellular phone care and operation
· Crime prevention
· Courtroom testimony and demeanor
· Drug identification and intelligence reporting
· C.A.R.E. Team limitations
· Understanding the mind set of the responding officer
· Reporting incidents
This training helps C.A.R.E. Team Members understand their role in Roanoke's public safety team, and gives them the tools they need to safely and accurately report information to dispatchers.
How you can help
As a citizen initiative, the success of the C.A.R.E. Patrol depends on you. You can help enhance the quality of life in Roanoke in many ways.
· Volunteer as a C.A.R.E. Team Member. Volunteers are actively recruited from all zones of the city. Team members must be at least 18 years of age, may not have any criminal convictions in the last five years and may not have any previous felony convictions. You can volunteer for as little as a few hours a month or as much as several days a week. New training sessions are held throughout the year.
· Help report crime in your community. As always, you can work to eliminate neighborhood crime by quickly calling 911 whenever you observe an incident in progress.
· Make a donation to the C.A.R.E. Patrol. Individual and business contributions to the program are gratefully appreciated. Your monetary donations help promote the program and fund the purchase of supplies. Contributions are tax deductible and are acknowledged with an "I C.A.R.E." certificate.
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