Under the leadership of retired RCMP Staff Sgt. Bob McIntosh community policing’s citizens on patrol program has a dedicated core of young people.
“It was Bob’s dream to involve youth,” said community safety co-ordinator Dave Dickson as he recognized McIntosh during a presentation at city hall Tuesday.
In response, McIntosh said the program arose from a conviction the youth in Williams Lake have a lot to offer the community.
“The people I started with were in attendance at the RCMP youth academy going on three years ago and they’ve stayed with me the whole time,” McIntosh said. “Since then the program’s grown to seven people and most of them want to be police officers down the road.”
McIntosh credited Dickson, the RCMP, specifically Sgt. Rick Lebeuf, and the community for their support for the program.
It’s a very valuable program, he said, adding the youth have jobs, are getting further education and keep a note book, just like a police officer does and follow RCMP protocol.
Chris Dowe and Dyllan Wall have been with the COPs program’s involvement of youth since the beginning and were both recognized as well.
“It should be noted that these two young lads have donated well over 200 hours to the community,” Dickson said of Dowe and Wall.
Mayor Walt Cobb enthusiastically congratulated McIntosh for all he does in the community.
“No matter where you go, Bob is there volunteering to make our community a better place.”
Listing his efforts, Cobb said McIntosh is a Rotarian, has volunteered with Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Big Brothers, Speedwatch, Restorative Justice, Operation Red Nose and Hough Memorial Society.
“If it has to do with safety, he’s there,” Cobb said.