Keeping watch

A large basket full of candy sits next to a thick binder of registered sex offenders’ photos on the front desk at the East Central’s COPS substation – an indication of the dual nature of the services provided there.

On a typical Friday afternoon at the substation, you may find volunteer Susan Gubler offering neighborhood children candy, checking out basketballs for kids to use at the park, or allowing a young boy to take a quick bathroom break.

You may also find Gubler filling out a log book recording tips about a suspected drug house, complaints about a neighbor, or recording the names of offenders reporting to their corrections officer.

Gubler, a soft-spoken woman in her 50s, was attracted to the neighborhood by affordable housing. She also volunteers in the literacy program at Sheridan Elementary and has a part-time child-care business.

Many of the students from Sheridan stop by the COPS substation on their way home from school for candy or to visit with neighborhood resource officer Bill Schaber.

“The neighborhood is really getting better, with the new Fred Meyer and everything. There’s been more interest in the Block Watch program, and more neighbors are getting involved,” said Gubler.

But Gubler is concerned about the number of volunteers at the COPS substation. They’re down to 12 volunteers. With more volunteers, the substation would be able to stay open more hours, maybe on Saturday.

“Volunteering here is a good way to be involved in your community and interact with people. I really like the police and CCOs (community correction officers) here. It’s a good way to find out what’s going on,” Gubler said.

“I enjoy our monthly meetings. We have some really interesting guest speakers,” Gubler said.

“Many of the people that come in just need to talk. We’re here to listen and provide information and let them know where to go for community services,” she said.

There’s a wealth of information at the COPS shop, racks full of brochures and pamphlets covering community resources and crime prevention topics — plenty of reading material for those days when things are quiet.

There are days when things aren’t so quiet.

Gubler remembers the day a man saw his picture on TV and decided to come to the shop to turn himself in. Officers were called, and he was escorted to the Public Safety Building.

Recently, a man came in very upset, asking to see an officer. He wanted help getting his $4,000 engagement ring back from his fiancee. After talking, he calmed down and decided to try to work things out.

People also bring in things they find in the neighborhood (purses, credit cards, marijuana).

Most of the volunteers’ time is spent taking reports involving car prowlings, animal problems, nuisances, abandoned or stolen cars, graffiti, and reports on drug and gang activities. Someone recently called to report that a neighbor has 40 skunks in a back yard.

“Sometimes neighbors get frustrated because they don’t see anything happening right away. They need to know it’s a process. It takes time to gather evidence,” Gubler said

“But we write up every report, and the officer is notified and patrols the area. The more information you can give the better,” she said.

The Department of Corrections’ Neighborhood Based Supervision puts community correction officers into the COPS substations.

CCOs Matt Shanks and Chris Schilling supervise offenders in the neighborhood.

Having the CCOs working in the neighborhood increases the potential for sharing resources and street intelligence, helping to reduce the chances that these criminals will reoffend.

Does Gubler worry about convicts coming in the substation? She’s never had a problem.

“These people are on their best behavior when they come in here, although their language is a little rough,” said Gubler.

The East Central COPS shop group worked at the Perry Street Faire and the Unity in the Community event last August. It distributed bike helmets to children in the neighborhood.

At Christmas, the volunteers supplied dinner to two families in the neighborhood and made a donation to Angel Ministries, a group that purchases gifts for children whose parents are in prison.

“I’ve learned so much by volunteering here and understand how the Police Department works and how much they want it to be a safe neighborhood.” Gubler said

“People are really working hard to make the neighborhood better,” she said.