North Central Cops Substation Seeking Neighborhood Volunteers

Thu., April 2, 1998

By Kevin Blocker kevinb@spokesman.com

The North Central COPS substation is looking for a few good men, women, even interested boys and girls willing to lend a hand at the substation.

The NC COPS station, located at 608 W. Shannon, opened March 8 last year after neighborhood activists worked for three years to get a substation in their neighborhood.

But now it doesn’t have enough volunteers and is having trouble staffing its normal hours, said volunteer coordinator Elsie Patterson.

”(The number of volunteers) fluctuates,” Patterson said. “We really only have 10 or 12 that spend time in here.”

Patterson said she still isn’t sure if the public is aware that the substation is open.

“Some people I’ve met are surprised to know that we’re here.”

The substation is having a hard time maintaining its regular office hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Patterson said volunteers would also like to have office hours on Saturday.

“We have such unpredictable hours right now that it’s hard to catch us.”

Volunteers are needed to answer phones and act as a referral service for residents in need of information.

Volunteers also file neighborhood complaints for residents. The complaints are then forwarded to the substation’s neighborhood resource officer.

Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to call the substation at 625-3348, or Patterson at 327-4059.

In other substation news, COPS Northeast will host its Fifth Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Youth Rally on April 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 5208 N. Market.

Organizers said last year’s event was one of the largest that the Hillyard neighborhood had ever seen. More than 1,200 people showed up to hunt for eggs, play games, listen to live music and socialize.

Like last year, participants this year are asked to bring at least $1 and a can of food which will be donated the Northeast Community Center.

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