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Volunteers On Patrol

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 30, 2008

Updated: 01/28/2008 09:34 pm

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - When word spread that the efforts to bring the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Volunteer Citizen Patrol program to Town 'N Country had failed, a group made it their mission to make things right.

Kenneth Atkison was part of the first class to graduate from the citizen patrol program and when he and other patrol volunteers heard Town 'N Country was out, Atkison said they began making phone calls.

"The group got together and said we should try this again," said Atkison, 64, a Town 'N Country resident since 1997.

Their voices were heard. At 7 p.m. Feb. 7, a workshop will be held at Webb Middle School, 6035 Hanley Road, to educate residents about the program.

The citizen patrol, which has 39 members, began in Hillsborough County in March. The volunteers have manned the streets with pilot programs in Apollo Beach and Westchase.

In the past year, crime has dropped 38 percent in Apollo Beach and 18 percent in Westchase, according to sheriff's Maj. Albert Frost.

Volunteers go through 50 hours of training so they can assist in duties such as working school crossings and directing traffic. When they graduate, they receive uniforms and hand-held radios, and make their rounds in patrol cars that are marked and equipped similar to deputy cruisers.

Bloomingdale residents are the latest to participate in the program. That community had a good turnout at their workshop, unlike Town 'N Country. When Town 'N Country held its workshop in September, only eight people attended.

Atkison, who patrols Westchase twice a month, said he didn't believe that meeting was well publicized, since even he didn't know about it. Now, he's making sure fliers are distributed all over the community to promote the upcoming workshop.
Atkison is hoping for 100 to 150 attendees.

"I believe we can make it work; all we can do is give it a shot," he said.

Sgt. Carlos Somellan of the Sheriff's Crime Prevention Bureau was surprised at the outpouring but was ready to give Town 'N Country another opportunity.

"I got a great deal of calls and they said they want a second chance," he said. "We said we're all about second chances. This is nothing more than a community responding and saying we're here and we're going to help you."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: A workshop to educate residents about the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Volunteer Citizen Patrol program.

WHERE: Webb Middle School, 6035 Hanley Road

WHEN: 7 p.m. Feb. 7

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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