FLORENCE, Ariz. – Do you have a lot of pride in your neighborhood? Have you ever wanted to take extra steps to help keep your family and friends safe, but weren’t sure how? The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office may have exactly what you’re looking for!

Sheriff Babeu pictured speaking at a COP meeting.

Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) is an organization of dedicated citizens working within the community with the primary purpose of assisting their neighborhood in crime prevention by acting as additional “eyes and ears” for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. Volunteers actively patrol neighborhoods and businesses, in pairs, to create a visible presence to deter crime, observe, record and report suspicious activity. Volunteers also participate in community education and awareness activities; some assist with public speaking, fund raising and program promotion.

C.O.P. patrols in Arizona City and surrounding areas, areas around the main campus of Central Arizona College, Unincorporated Apache Junction, Gold Canyon, Entrada del Oro and Queen Valley.

If you want to make a difference in one of these communities, Sheriff Paul Babeu encourages you to submit an application soon so it can be processed in time for upcoming training classes. Applicants must pass a background check, be 21 years of age and posses a valid Arizona Driver’s License.

COP volunteers pictured at a meeting in Gold Canyon.

“Our Citizens on Patrol do outstanding work assisting our deputies,” Sheriff Babeu said. “There‘s no doubt COP efforts have prevented countless crimes from being committed. This is community policing at best and who better to keep additional eyes and ears on our neighborhoods and business than the people who call them home.”

For more information go the C.O.P. website at www.pinalcop.com or call the Program Director, Howard Rinehart at 520-866-6120.