Riverside Sheriff’s Department Wants Volunteers for Citizens on Patrol

People in the small unincorporated community of Desert Edge, just west of Desert Hot Springs feel safer. They have their first ever citizens on patrol keeping watch over their neighborhoods. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is no hoping to get more volunteers.

“Back in February I began the process of recruiting interested people and through that program we now have one person,” said Sgt. Dan Devinny with the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.

That one person is Dick Madison, who began volunteering with Citizens on Patrol several years ago. He’s served in Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs, and now the community of Desert Edge along Dillon Road.

“The reaction so far has been – and we’ve been here 3-4 days – has been a very positive reaction. People are coming out to their doors steps and they wave at us and we wave back,” Madison said.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Department says a lot of snowbirds call the area home, and those homes get left vacant for long periods of time. It tends to make the community a target for criminals.

“Anytime that you have any crime in any area it has very negative and profound effect on citizens,” Sgt. Dan Devinny said.

The sheriff’s department says Citizens on Patrol act as ambassadors within the community – an extra set of eyes and ears assisting the department.

“I think just a lot times their mere presence, they are actually causing the crime to stay down,” Sgt. Devinny said.

Madison feels honored to be part of the program, volunteering his time and keeping neighborhoods and their citizens safe. It also in a sense fullfills a dream.

“Back in 1967, I was a sheriff’s wanna be, I didn’t make the force back then. I always wanted to be active in the police department, I find it very interesting,” Madison said, “I enjoy working with the officers and doing what i can and the community as a way of giving back,” he said.

The department is looking to recruit more volunteers for its program. They want to get four more people to patrol the area by December.

Volunteers must be over the age of 18 and possess a valid driver’s license, good moral character and no criminal record. All applicants are screened by the Sheriff’s Department and must pass a background check.
Interested citizens will undergo a training program from a local law enforcement agency.

Residents interested in volunteering with Citizens on Patrol in Desert Edge or any other county area should contact Sergeant Danny Devinny at 760-836-1600 or palmdesertstation@riversidesheriff.org.