Citizen Observer
Encyclopedia
A citizen observer is a resident appointed by the Chief of Police
, or by the Deputy Sheriff
, who has met the specific application, background and training requirements for patrolling his or her neighborhood or city
subdivision
to observe and report suspicious persons and criminal activity
. A citizen observer also seeks to mediate between law enforcement
and citizens in an effort to establish unity between them. Occasionally, a citizen observer helps law enforcement in the patrolling of businesses as well. A citizen observer is only an ordinary citizen working in behalf of law enforcement and does not have law enforcement titles, authority or prerogatives.
An organization of citizen observers established by a community
is called a Citizen Observer Patrol (COP). In large cities where a Citizen Observer Patrol is present, crime is often minimized considerably and fewer criminal acts go unreported to authorities. In addition, citizens in the community feel more secure, and better relations exist between law enforcement and the community.
Citizen Observer.com is a Saint Paul, MN company founded by former Minnesota state Representative John Jordan and author Scotty Roberts after the shooting of Roberts mom by Harvey LaDoucer. John Jordan and Saint Paul resident Terry Troy, along with CitizenObserver president Terry Halsch, created and patented a set of law enforcement tools now used by a number of police departments throughout the United States.
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
, or by the Deputy Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, who has met the specific application, background and training requirements for patrolling his or her neighborhood or city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
subdivision
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
to observe and report suspicious persons and criminal activity
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
. A citizen observer also seeks to mediate between law enforcement
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and citizens in an effort to establish unity between them. Occasionally, a citizen observer helps law enforcement in the patrolling of businesses as well. A citizen observer is only an ordinary citizen working in behalf of law enforcement and does not have law enforcement titles, authority or prerogatives.
An organization of citizen observers established by a community
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
is called a Citizen Observer Patrol (COP). In large cities where a Citizen Observer Patrol is present, crime is often minimized considerably and fewer criminal acts go unreported to authorities. In addition, citizens in the community feel more secure, and better relations exist between law enforcement and the community.
Citizen Observer.com is a Saint Paul, MN company founded by former Minnesota state Representative John Jordan and author Scotty Roberts after the shooting of Roberts mom by Harvey LaDoucer. John Jordan and Saint Paul resident Terry Troy, along with CitizenObserver president Terry Halsch, created and patented a set of law enforcement tools now used by a number of police departments throughout the United States.