After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Côte Saint-Luc volunteer Citizens on Patrol (vCOP) returned last month, on Monday, March 14, 2022. In order to minimize the risk to the volunteers, the City is following all the government and CNESST guidelines, as well as strict internal protocols.
Working in collaboration with Côte Saint-Luc Public Safety, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and the Montreal police, vCOP members patrol the city, observing and reporting any suspicious activities or problems. The vCOP members are not law enforcement personnel; instead, they act as the eyes and ears for our emergency services.
Visible on the streets and in parks, and at many special events throughout the year, the vCOP patrols help deter crime and assist people in need. They also assist residents and visitors by informing them about city services and municipal by-laws. VCOP members patrol in marked vehicles – numbered 901, 902 and 903 – as well as on bicycle, scooters, and on foot.
To learn more about vCOP including information on how to join, visit cotesaintluc.org/vcop.
Quotations
“I thank the vCOP volunteers who are resuming their patrols around the city in their familiar orange-striped vans. We’re lucky to have them.” – Mayor Mitchell Brownstein
“Resuming this service is an important milestone on our way out of the pandemic. The health and safety of our volunteers is crucial and I greatly appreciate the Public Safety Department team for their work in organizing the safe return of our volunteers.” – Councillor Steven Erdelyi, Council link to the vCOP service