1. Training of New Applicants

Will consist of:
a) Legal Responsibilities (Policies & Procedures)
b) Patrol and Observation Techniques
c) Radio Communication Procedures
d) Notebooks & Note-taking

This training will be done during the new applicant's training sessions with one of our Training Officers. (Before the first training session, a new applicant will be responsible for reading the Policies and Procedures Manual and the Training Manual so he/she is familiar with Crime Watch standard procedures.

2. Patrol Procedures & Techniques

2.1 General

a) Prior to patrol, the vehicle driver will ensure that all lights are operational, brakes and horn functional, and windshield is clean.

b) All members will report for duty at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the beginning of their shift (eg. Patrol starts at 2100 hours - report to Steveston Community Police Station no later than 2045 hours) allowing time for a briefing, signing out of radio equipment, and on the road by 2130 hours.

c) Patrol members will complete a Patrol Information Sheet to be given to the Base Operator. These sheets will be found at the Base Station. Note: Each Patrol Information Sheet has spaces for four (4) or five (5) vehicles (further referred to as Units) so, depending on the number of units out on a patrol night, more than one sheet may need to be filled out.

d) Each patrol unit will be assigned a Radio Kit. Each kit will consist of the following:

• 2 portable radios
• 1 flashlight
• 2 traffic control vests
• 1 pair of binoculars
• 1 clipboard with scratch paper
• 1 each city map and school map
• 1 SARs laptop with proper connections

Each patrol unit must ensure that their kit is complete BEFORE going out on patrol and is responsible for assuring that the kit is returned complete, AND IN WORKING ORDER. Note: If there are any problems encountered with any of the equipment in the Radio Kit, contact either your Watch Leader or one of the Coordinators, and advise them of the problem AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

e) The driver's primary responsibility is the safe operation of the patrol vehicle, obeying all traffic laws.

f) The passenger(s) will do the surveillance and keep track of the location of the vehicle. The passenger will operate the radio and the laptop, and will keep the base operator informed of his/her unit's activites and location.

g) Establish a patrol area plan with the other units and inform the base operator of your plans.

h) Patrols should be made of back streets and alleys. A good deal of criminal activity cannot be spotted from the main streets.

i) Patrols should be made of schools and community centres, paying special attention to unlighted alcoves, doorways and roofs.

j) Any walk-arounds will be done by BOTH members of a unit. Notify the base operator of intention and location, ensure vehicle is locked and radio equipment is hidden from view. Upon exiting the vehicle, a radio check of the portable radio WILL be done and the walk-around WILL be cancelled if the radio check is not successful.

NOTE: DO NOT AT ANY TIME turn off or down the volume of the radio that you are using. You MUST be able to hear as well as talk to the Base Station AT ALL TIMES while on patrol.

k) If a patrol unit is being followed, they should stay calm, drive the posted speed limit, advise the base operator, and proceed to the RCMP detachment.

l) Whenever possible "PARK, LOOK and LISTEN".

m) Use high beams in alleys, industrial areas, overlooking school grounds and parks. A sweeping technique covers a broad area with headlights. Avoid shining light or spotlight into residential windows. Make sure to turn highbeams off when resuming patrol.

n) Use street and outside building lights to your advantage. Park in the dark or in shadows to observe lighted areas.

o) Drive slowly whenever possible. It is difficult to see persons hiding in the dark when you are travelling at the posted speeds. Note: If you are travelling slowly as you should be and a vehicle is approaching from the rear - DON"T BLOCK TRAFFIC - move to the right and let them by. Be courteous and considerate of your fellow drivers.

p) Arrange with your partner who will watch what!

q) NEVER PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER. Don't go into an unknown area where you could get blocked in. WHEN IN DOUBT - GET OUT. Never stay in a place that you are not sure of - the best thing to do if you are not sure of the safety of wherever you are is to leave.

2.2 Observation Guidelines

Members are reminded that the main objective of Crime Watch is to OBSERVE and REPORT any suspicious or criminal activities. In order to assist members in determining what activities may be considered suspicious or criminal in nature, the following guidelines have been developed:

a) Persons removing accessories, licence plates or gasoline from vehicles may be committing a theft.

b) Persons peering into parked vehicles may be planning to steal the vehicle or articles left inside.

c) Persons entering or leaving business premises after normal working hours may have committed a break and enter.

d) The sound of breaking glass, screams or other sounds may indicate that a crime is in progress.

e) Persons loitering after dark in parks and secluded areas or in business areas may be contemplating the commission of an offence.

f) Persons forcing entrance into buildings or other structures may be committing a break and enter.

g) Persons running, particularly if carrying valuable property, may have committed an offence.

h) Vehicles prowling an area after dark with the headlights turned off may be looking for a victim.

i) Any occupied vehicle parked in a business area after dark should be considered suspicious.

j) Persons loading vehicles with property after dark may be committing a theft.

REMEMBER - Professional thieves often disguise their vehicles to look like legitimate service companies.

k) An apparently abandoned vehicle may have been stolen.

l) Open or broken doors and windows or gates to compounds or storage areas may indicate that a crime has occurred or is in progress.

m) Persons apparantly being forced into vehicles against their will may indicate that an abduction is in progress.

n) Persons leaving one vehicle and immediately entering another may be abandoning a stolen vehicle or one that has been used in a crime.

o) Smoke or flames coming from a building.

p) A vehicle being driven in an erratic manner may indicate an impaired driver.

2.3 Observation Skills

a) Person - Physical

• Sex - Sometimes questionable - try to observe mannerisms, walk, etc. for clues.
• Age - Try to compare with someone you know.
• Height - Use short, medium and tall rather than trying to estimate height - compare against surroundings.
• Weight - Use slim, average, stocky, etc. - don't try to estimate - include things like potbelly, broad shoulders, long/short legs.
• Eyes - Probably will not be close enough to see colour.
• Complexion - Dark-skinned, light, tanned, acne, scars, etc.
• Peculiarities - What stands out - how would you pick him/her from out of a crowd - tattoos or facial hair.
• Hair - Colour, length, straight/curly, clean/dirty.
• Right or left-handed

b) Person - Clothes

• Hat - Colour, logos, worn forwards or backwards.
• Shirt - Writing on front, colours.
• Pants - Colour, tears, loose/tight, worn spots (wallet in hip pocket), unusual belt/buckle.
• Shoes - Clean/dirty, laced, wearing socks?
• Jewellery - Chains, rings, earrings, pins on jacket.
• Appearance - Appropriate for weather and location, extra T-shirt in back pocket, anything unusual.

c) Weapons/Tools

• Tire iron, flashlight, muffler pipe, rock, wood (2X4).
• Baseball bat, hockey sticks.
• Rifle, shotgun, pistol, knife.
• Gas can - do they look old enought to drive? Could they be an arsonist? Or has their car just run out of gas? Observe.

d) Vehicle

• Licence plate number and Province.
• Make, model, colour and year, if possible.
• Debris around parked vehicle - window glass from broken window.
• What's different if checking parked vehicle for the second time.
• Unusual features - rust spots, dents, broken/nonfunctioning lights, decals, antenna, clean/dirty, emitting smoke, noisy, distinctive colours or patterns.
• Driver and number of passengers.

3. Radio Communication Procedures

3.1 Radio Procedures

a) The radio should be used in the following manner:

• Turn on the radio, adjust the volume level where you can comfortably hear ALL transmissions from the base.
• Ensure you are on the correct channel.
• A microphone (if available) may be attached to the radio. Ensure that the connectors are fully mated.

b) Each radio operator will sign on the air in the following manner:

• "To all stations, this is Richmond Citizens Crime Watch Patrol, Unit __ (give unit number), signing on at __ (give time - use 24-hr clock)".
• A radio check with the base station is accomplished during the sign-on procedure.
• After the base operator has acknowledged your sign-on, give the base operator the odometer reading of your vehicle.
• A similar procedure is used at the end of a shift, give the base operator your odometer reading as of your arrival back at the Station, and then sign-off as follows:
• "To all stations, this is Richmond Citizens Crime Watch Patrol, Unit __ signing off at __ hours."
• The base operator will also ask for the number of licence plates run on the SARs laptop at the end of the shift. This total can be found by pressing ALT+F10 on the laptop's keypad.

c) The following procedure will be used when calling another unit or the base:

• State the unit being called, followed by the unit calling, eg. "Unit 2 from Unit 1" or "Base from Unit 1".
• Replying to the above calls would be as follows: "Unit 1 go ahead".

d) While the radio frequently used by Crime Watch is generally free from other users, it must be remembered that unauthorized persons may be monitoring the frequency. In view of this fact, all transmissions by members of Crime Watch will conform to the following guidelines:

• The use of profane language WILL NOT be tolerated.
• Members must speak slowly and clearly to ensure the message is understood by the person receiving it (use ten code when possible).
• When transmitting a lengthy message, members will broadcast for no more than fifteen (15) seconds at a time, in order to permit other members to transmit in the event of an emergency.
• When not in use, members will ensure that the radio and/or microphone is placed in a location which will prevent it from being accidently keyed or damaged.
• Members will adjust the volume of the radio so that it is easily heard within the patrol vehicle, but so that it is NOT easily heard by unauthorized listeners outside the vehicle.
• Except in the event of an emergency or urgent situation, no member will interrupt a transmission being made by another member.
• Members must radio their location to the base station at all times before entering any area from which radio transmissions may be subject to interference, and should inform the base as soon as they have exited that area (i.e. underground parking areas).
• All members will ensure that radio contact is made with the base station at least every ten (10) minutes.
• Avoid using the names of Crime Watch members over the air, and avoid excessive chatter on the radios.

3.2 Base Operator Techniques

Base operators will adhere to the "Base Station Instruction Sheet" kept at the base station.

3.3 Training Officer Techniques

Training Officers will adhere to the "Training Officer Instruction Manual" provided to them when becoming a Training Officer.

3.4 Ten Code

The Ten Code system is designed to ensure that radio transmissions are kept as short as possible, are understood by all authorized listeners and are not understood by unauthorized listeners. The system is only effective, however, when all users are fully familiar with the codes being used. All members are urged to familiarize themselves with the Ten Code and, except in emergency situations where uncoded voice transmissions may be preferable, adhere to the Ten Code System.

3.5 International Phonetic Alphabet

The Phonetic Alphabet is designed to ensure that all transmissions are understood by the receiver. This is particularly important when spelling a name or transmitting a licence plate number. Members are encouraged to learn and use the Phonetic Alphabet.