Small volunteer group saves taxpayers over one million dollars

They’re called the Citizen’s Watch Patrol. It’s a small group of volunteers who spend a few hours each week working and helping the Idaho Falls Police Department. With the patrol celebrating their 15th anniversary this year, city numbers show they’ve saved taxpayers a lot of money.

“They literally do thousands of hours a year,” said Captain Royce Clements of the IFPD. “So, you can try to do the math. In a nutshell, they’re saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Clements estimates that each hour a volunteer spends helping the police force the city saves $30 to $50. You multiply those numbers by thousands of man-hours over a 15 year period, and the numbers easily surpass the $1 million mark. “It’s invaluable what they do,” Clements said.

To the average person, that “invaluable” work may seem a bit mundane. The volunteers typically make a round of house visits to check on vacationer’s homes, hand out parking violation warnings, and direct traffic during accidents.

Those that work for the patrol, don’t see it as mundane. “”It’s heartwarming to be able to assist the protection of property and lives,” Earl Harryman said. Who is a retired police officer who goes out on patrol once a week, “I look forward to it every week.”

“The comradery and just that we can help the community give back is why I love it and miss it,” said Harvey Gord, a former volunteer with the Citizen’s Watch Patrol.

Citizen’s Watch Patrol leaders say they’re always looking for more people. More information on the volunteer group can be found HERE.