MARIETTA, Ga. — Great customer service that also cuts crime? That’s what many say citizen patrols provide in metro Atlanta communities where volunteers are filling in the gaps between police and the community.
It’s not quite a neighborhood watch program – citizen patrols are doing limited police work.
“I’ve been in this position for about six months now and almost every single encounter with the community has been compassionate and caring,” said Mark Eister, one of eight public safety ambassadors with the Marietta Police Department. “Most people are very thankful to have us on the road.”
Initially, Eister wanted to serve in the military like his parents, but decided to serve on the local level, instead. At 19, he’s not old enough to work as a sworn-in police officer. Under Georgia law, citizens can apply to become an officer at age 21.
As an ambassador with the Marietta Police Department, Eister can help citizens with things like opening locked cars, jump starting car batteries and performing home checks for neighbors who are out of town. Eister can also file police reports for stolen items, or non-injury accidents on private property.
“They’re never going to be asked to go to a call where a suspect would be on scene,” said Chuck McPhilamy with Marietta Police. “They’re never going to go to a call where someone could harm them.”
McPhilamy said his department has seen a surge in popularity in its volunteer citizen patrol unit. He said this program even has more applicants than roles for sworn-in officers.
Fluctuating opinions about police is one reason, he said.
“There’s a stigma that comes with being a police officer, those that do the job, most of us would tell you we felt called to do it … a calling,” McPhilamy said.
Departments across the metro are utilizing citizen patrol programs, from Suwanee Police to Clayton County.
Gwinnett County Police started its citizen patrol program in 2017, with volunteers canvassing county parks. At one point, Avondale Estates Police had up to 80 volunteers, who worked in pairs for two-hour shifts.
Sandy Springs Police started its program in 2011 and has over 60 volunteers in its unit. Some even teach scam prevention classes to senior citizens.
These volunteers don’t have weapons, but they’re trained to use police radios and equipped with safety vests and flashlights. Some who undergo extra training also carry pepper spray.
However – citizen patrol units cannot enforce Georgia law.
Marietta’s program is unique in that their patrols are paid – the ambassador program has a salary of close to $30,000 per year. From 2017-2018, violent crime in the city has dropped 12 percent – which the police department attributes, in part, to its citizen programs.
“Year after year, we’ve had double digit drops,” McPhilmy said. “It’s been a fantastic involvement for us.”
Some departments 11Alive contacted could not calculate for sure what impact its citizen patrol units have on crime, but most agree that these programs help with overall customer service to residents in need.
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