BCAP is working to make a safer city
Published 2:22 pm Thursday, June 2, 2016
By KATHERINE WEIGEL
Bremerton Community Advisory Board
Retirement. It seemed it would never get here when I started working for the United States Postal Service in 1980 as a substitute mail carrier. It’s what most of us who work for a living dream about, plan for, hope it gets here soon.
It did come after 32 years with USPS in 2012. Now, it’s been more than 3-and-a-half years since I retired. I had planned on getting my CDL after retirement and driving a big 18-wheeler. Little did I realize, I was really tired of driving for a living. I had driven about 45 miles a day for most of my full-time career.
Now, I thought, how about volunteering? So many are in need of volunteers. How to choose? I love the town in which I call home: Bremerton. How can I give back?
We live next to Forest Ridge Park. “Our” park. We walk the trails daily. We pick up trash. My husband, Joe, is good about coming up to clean up graffiti that I have found. We meet once a month with neighbors of the park to pull noxious weeds.
It was during one of my daily walks with our dachshund, Winnie, that I met and talked to two gentlemen in bright yellow uniform shirts with “volunteer” emblazoned on the back. I explained how we volunteers of Forest Ridge Park give back to the community. They explained that they keep an eye out for nefarious activity.
One man handed me a business card, telling me that they would like for me to become part of a newly formed group of volunteers: BCAP — Bremerton Citizens Auxiliary Patrol. It is a volunteer branch of the Bremerton Police Department. I took the card and filed it away. But, not even a month later, I saw the yellow shirts again. This time, Tom Danaher, one of the volunteers (and the BCAP volunteer coordinator) convinced me that they needed someone like me. Someone who cares about our city and wants to keep it safe.
I went to the City of Bremerton’s website, www.bremertonwa.gov, filled out the BCAP application and next thing I knew I had a yellow shirt, too! Orientation with the city and the issuance of a manual of what the volunteers do was the first part of volunteering for BCAP. My first time going on patrol was with two other experienced volunteers. I observed and listened, aware of the importance of the proper procedures — picking up our schedule for the day, and collecting our gear (radios, cell phones, jackets) and the patrol car.
Betty is a former dispatcher for CenCom and a wealth of information on how to use the radio. I was very intimidated the first time I held the radio in my hand, but it didn’t take long to get the hang of talking with the dispatchers (be brief and speak clearly). Sarah was the driver that day. Together, they showed me that what we do as volunteers makes a difference.
One more ride-along with the experienced patrollers, then it was Betty and me together. I drove and Betty kept track of our schedule and where to go.
BCAP members patrol the city, business districts, parks and city-owned garages and marinas by vehicle and on foot. We check for suspicious activity, vandalism or unsecured property.
BCAP is intended to supplement and support, rather than supplant, sworn police officers and civilian personnel. We serve as “eyes and ears” for the Bremerton Police Department.
Our patrol contacts local merchants and residents while on foot or in our vehicle. We always go on patrol with a partner and during daylight hours. We promote awareness of the program and build community relations. If there is ever a situation that requires any enforcement action, we report the situation to commissioned police officers.
Usually, our day goes well and is uneventful. We frequently hear, “Glad to see you!” or “You’re doing a good job!”
Another thing we do for our community is vacation house checks for residents who live inside the city limits. You can easily fill out an application for a house check on the city’s website. It’s easy to do and you have the peace of mind that comes from knowing someone is looking out for your home while you’re away.
After I had gone on several patrols and told my husband, Joe, about my adventures, I convinced him to apply and join me. Now we patrol together. He’s not as comfortable using the radio, so he usually drives the patrol car. Born and raised in Bremerton, he knows the streets like the back of his hand.
We are always looking for more folks to join our organization. Feel free to contact Joe Sexton, community resource specialist, at 360-473-5231 with any questions, or fill out an application on the City of Bremerton website.
— Katherine Weigel lives in Bremerton and is a member of the Bremerton Patriot/Central Kitsap Reporter Community Advisory Board.
