Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Cops to bring back night watch
THE Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will re-launch the “expanded police night watch” program after this was proven to be an effective deterrent to street crimes.
CCPO Director Patrocinio Comendador said the first team will be deployed tonight in one of the areas in the city identified as crime prone.
After assuming the highest post in the CCPO early last year, Comendador created the night watch team as part of his crime prevention programs.
During that time, members of the night watch teams, that were composed of police officers who are doing administrative and clerical jobs, were required to render night duties once a week on top of their daytime duties.
There were only three teams that time.
In the expanded night watch, Comendador has required CCPO’s more than 1,000 police officers, including those assigned in the intelligence section, to do night watch duties once a month on top of their daytime duties.
Exemptions
At least 30 police officers are expected to be on the streets every night, he said.
He said several policemen tried to apply for exemptions citing medical problems, but Comendador turned them down.
Comendador said implementing the police night watch has been very effective in deterring crimes.
He particularly cited the areas in Carbon Market where shooting incidents used to be rampant.
With the constant presence of the night watch team, crimes in the area were minimized.
When an incident calls for a back-up team, the night watch team will be the first to be sent, Comendador said. (JST)
