Citizens Radio Patrol

A Neighborhood Safety Success Story Seeks Volunteers

The Citizens Radio Patrol Assistance Program of Detroit is one of the City’s best kept safety success stories.  Established by a Detroit City Council Resolution in 1967, the Radio Patrol Program has been an essential part of the strength and safety of Detroit’s neighborhoods.  Individual patrols have been established in communities throughout Detroit.  These committed, concerned volunteers send a clear message: we care about our neighborhood, we watch over our neighborhood, and if you have bad intentions, stay out of our neighborhood!

We are always looking for more residents who are willing to devote a little of their time to enhancing the safety of their neighborhoods to consider becoming a part of an established patrol, or helping to organize a new patrol in their community. 

In a city as large as Detroit, the patrols were established to help serve as extended “Eyes” and “Ears” for the Police Department.  Each of the patrols consists of a number of volunteers who commit a small amount of their time each week to serve as a base operator, a driver, or an observer with the driver.  The Detroit Mayor’s Office Neighborhood City Hall provides $2,000 of reimbursable start-up funds, communication equipment and reimburses approved operating expenses.

The role of the patrollers is to watch over their neighborhoods and report any suspicious activity or sights to the patrol base operator, who in turn contacts the local Police District Office.   The patrollers are never to put themselves in harm’s way or to confront suspicious individuals -- that’s the job of the Police Department.

Among some of the rules that the Radio Patrol Program are bound by:

• Members must be at least 18 years old.
• Two members must always be in a patrol car.
• No weapons of any kind can be carried period.
• Crime and serious situations must be reported immediately to the base operator for relay to the police.
• Patrollers are not to engage in high-speed chases.
• Patrollers must remain in their vehicles, except to perform “Good Samaritan” acts.

If you have any questions or think you might be interested in becoming a member of a patrol, please call the Mayor’s Office Neighborhood City Halls at (313) 224-3450.