Dog walker watch program to train pet owners to fight crime
A community awareness program next week in Palm Desert is training dog walkers to help law enforcement fight and prevent crime.
Designed to encourage joggers, dog walkers and people out and about to be community observers, the session will train people what to look for and how to report suspicious activity to local police.
” Dogs really do make you aware of things, and also make the people who are maybe not supposed to be there aware that people are watching them,” said Mike Steirnagle, a Palm Desert dog walker.
The training program is at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park at the intersection of Fred Waring Dr. and San Pablo Ave. on October 2 from 4-7 p.m. Police said anyone is welcome to come, regardless of whether you own a dog or not.
Most importantly, police said if you see something, say something.
“We’re teaching people how to stay safe in their community, how to not approach suspicious persons or vehicles but to report them to their local law enforcement and to know what is suspicious and what is not suspicious,” said community service officer Stacey Austin of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Palm Desert.
Dog walkers at the dog park Wednesday responded positively to the idea.
“I think it’s a super idea,” said Carol Sidley, a Palm Desert resident. “I walk my dog twice a day and it’s just another pair of eyes if you’re trained to look for certain things it’s another pair of eyes for the police.”
Others thought it would help build their community.
“It’s a great way to meet people in addition to keeping an eye, a subtle eye, on the neighborhood,” said Mike Steirnagle.
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