Wakefield Civilian Patrol - 25th Anniversary - Sept. 27, 2001

We're Having A Party!

By: Bill Ludwig

25 years! That's quite an accomplishment for a volunteer group!

This column contains the history of the Wakefield Civilian Patrol (WCP), how it operates, its accomplishments, an anniversary celebration, and a thank you.

25 years ago on June 8, 1976, a group of public spirited citizens in the Wakefield community got together in St. Frances of Rome's auditorium to form a neighborhood civilian patrol.

Between June 8, 1976 and September 27, 1976, a steering committee formulated the activities for the WCP with the assistance of the Bronx Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Members raised $1,260 in a fund raising raffle to purchase the necessary equipment for the Patrol. In addition, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license to use a Citizens Band (CB) radio was obtained.

On September 14, 1976, through the efforts of Pastor Theodore Wittrock, the Redeemer Lutheran Church's Voters Assembly gave permission for their Barnes and Boyd Avenue location to be used as the Patrol's base of operation.

On Monday, September 27, 1976, the Patrol began operations with evening hours of 8 P.M. to midnight. Three cars, each consisting of a driver and a passenger, patrolled the Wakefield community.

While patrolling, if patrollers see a suspicious happening, they report it, by radio to the Base Station. The Base Station operator then decides whether to notify the police. Patrollers do not take an active part in apprehending criminals. The mission of each patroller is to act as the "eyes and ears" of the Police Department by giving 2 hours a week to patrol the Wakefield neighborhood and make it one of the safest communities in the City. Patrollers also report accidents, traffic lights and street lights which are not working, abandoned cars and other non-crime matters.

On June 30, 1980, our nearby Baychester Residents Patrol closed due to a lack of volunteer patrollers. Some of the Baychester patrollers joined the Wakefield patrollers, and in July 1980, the WCP expanded its patrolling area to cover all the former Baychester area.

The New York City Police Department sanctions the WCP and other patrols of this type, and provides guidance and support. In addition, the Police have established a list of rules and procedures for civilian patrols to follow. The rules detail the limits of a patrol's function as well as set a minimum number of staff that should be on duty.

The Police acknowledge that street crime incidents have actually dropped in areas where civilian patrols are already operating. The fact that a neighborhood has such a patrol is a deterrent to crime. There are currently 35 patrols with over 625 members registered with the New York City Police Department.

Through the years, the WCP's record of crime resistance has been remarkable. The Patrol has mobilized Police, Fire and Sanitation assistance on a regular basis for a variety of problems and has saved lives by bringing medical assistance to those involved in accidents and other health emergencies.

In times of difficulties the Patrol has always helped out as best it could, guarding the social functions of senior citizens and teenagers alike. The Patrol has been highly successful in its efforts to stop vandalism and malicious mischief.

Along with these efforts, the Patrol has provided numerous crime resistance lectures by members of the NYPD and the FBI, which have been well-received by the community at the Patrol's meetings. In addition, the Patrol has provided community lectures on a variety of other subjects as well. The Patrol could take pride in any one of these accomplishments, yet taken as a whole, the record is certainly outstanding.

On February 19, 1988, the Patrol merged with the Wakefield Taxpayers & Civic League, Inc. The primary reason for the merger was to allow the members of the Patrol who actually patrol 2 hours nightly each week to be relieved of the customary additional administrative duties. A WCP committee of the League was established. The merger was overwhelmingly approved by both groups simply because it was clearly in the best interest of the Wakefield community.

On September 27, 2001, the Patrol will mark 25 years of volunteer service to the Wakefield community. During the past 25 years the Patrol has been financially self-sufficient by running an annual raffle. In order to maintain the radio equipment and to pay operating expenses such as rent, phone bills, etc. members also paid a nominal annual dues. One of the main reasons for the Patrol remaining in operation has been the raffle and donations from the residents of the Wakefield community. In addition, throughout the past 25 years, the Patrol on occasion has been fortunate, through the efforts of elected officials and others, to receive grant funding for specific items that the Patrol would normally not be able to afford, such as radio and antenna equipment, magnetic signs for cars, gas money reimbursement for patrollers, etc. The Patrol is exceedingly grateful for these grants and for all the support these many years from the Churches, banks, elected officials, individuals, businesses, and other organizations.

In order for the Patrol to continue to provide a community service, new patrollers are needed. The Patrol needs new members who are by nature unselfish people, who care more about giving of their time and effort to help the community than receiving material benefit.

If you are 18 years or over and would like to join, please write or contact the WCP at 4354 Boyd Avenue, Bronx, New York 10466-1804 or call 718-324-7770. The Patrol's brochure and an application to join is also available at the League's Web site: http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/bronx/wtcl. The Patrol offers a great opportunity to receive the kind of satisfaction that comes from giving unselfishly of yourself to keep the Wakefield community safe for all.

On Thursday evening, September 27, 2001 the Patrol will celebrate 25 years of volunteer service to the Wakefield community with a wine & cheese party from 7-10 p.m. at the Patrol's base station at 4354 Boyd Avenue (near Barnes Avenue). All are invited.

To all the past and present volunteer members of the WCP: Our sincere thanks and Happy 25th Anniversary!