Kansas winters are less than kind to our Stroll Patrols. Many of the
walkers head for the warmth and comfort of their easy chairs in November.
Those who brave the cold to continue usually make shorter trips.
There really isn't too much for walkers to do when its freezing. School
children take a more direct route home if parents don't pick them up.
Garage doors are usually closed to hold in the heat. Tools and mowers and
bicycles are stored. Car windows are up. Neighbors might be shoveling snow
but they aren't working in their yards. Gang members aren't "hanging" on
street corners.
Spring is another story! Kids always seem to think it is warm enough to be
outside before the rest of us do. The new crop of Christmas bicycles,
skates, baseballs, bats, footballs, and basketballs appear before the crocus,
jonquils, and tulips! Within days (not weeks) we have a list started for
"Stolen or Missing" bicycles. A few days later we start our annual
collection of "Found or Recovered" property.
Bicycles with registrations are easy to return to the owners. (But, why would
we be so lucky?) The Stroll Patrols, together with our other groups, try to
get owners to spend the $2.00 required to register them so they CAN be
returned. I wish we could insist on immediate registration upon
recovery and return.
April brings more than showers. We have so much more to pay attention to.
Open gates ... torn screens ... broken glass ... unsecured property ... barking
dogs ... loud, angry voices ... screaming! Strollers try to give extra
attention to blocks without Watch groups. Uncollected newspapers and mail
usually mean the resident can't get to them for one reason or another. We
try to check out the situation. If we are not successful, we call our
Community Officer or Police Dispatch.
Our Stroll Patrols aren't limited to certain areas. They patrol the parks,
even though we have Park Patrols. They patrol with their dogs (if they have
one, of course!) even though we have Pooch Patrols. All of our groups work
together to support each other and decrease the opportunities for crime
within our community.
Each of our groups are more alike than different but each group does have it's own unique perspective and intent. The keys to success are --
© 1997 OOPS!
