Pheasant Ridge

Cellular On Patrol

What is COPS all about?

The San Antonio Police Department sponsors a program, Cellular On Patrol, that gives citizens an opportunity to make neighborhoods and businesses a safer place to live and work. The purpose of this program is to prepare citizens to be the "eyes and ears" of the police and to promote closer cooperation between residents and the city agencies that exist to serve them. The training program, presented at the police substations, consists of eight hours of classroom training and the opportunity for up to eight hours of ride-along with a district patrol officer.

My husband, Bill, and I have taken these classes and are members of this program. It is a very thorough program which covers several aspects in which one can become better aware of crime in our neighborhood and the various types of crime that we may encounter. It teaches one how to become an effective observer, how to take good notes and good descriptions of people and vehicles. We were instructed about the various crimes that might occur in our neighborhood and how to communicate with the police. The course also covers vice, narcotics, gangs and juvenile crimes. A lot of information is given in these two four hour classes.

The ride-along with a district police officer is strictly voluntary and one has the opportunity to ride-along for up to eight hours. One can choose the day and shift time best for them. This was an exciting experience for both of us and we have come away with a much greater appreciation of what these officers must handle on their individual shifts.

Officer C. J. James is the instructor at the North Substation, 13030, Jones Maltsberger and the next classes will be held on November 8 and 15 at 6:30 PM. Our local SAFFE officer is Gerald Marple who patrols our area and is always ready to assist us in any way possible. Both men are members of the San Antonio Fear Free Environment, North unit, and each has spoken at the Pheasant Ridge Home Owners Association meetings.

We would like to encourage more residents to become involved in this program and help to keep our neighborhood a safer place to live. We try to do our patrols twice a week at various time of the day and night looking for anything that might be suspicious.

For more information, feel free to contact Officers James Marple (207-8350) or me, Helen Wenisch (946-1964).