Citizens On Patrol is a program of the Cincinnati Police Department. This program provides training and support for citizens to patrol and act as the eyes and ears of the Cincinnati Police Department in the neighborhoods where they live. Members patrol in groups of at least three or more, wearing a uniform (hat and shirt) and carrying police radios. Police Officers sometimes accompany us on these patrols. When on patrol, the citizens look for and report criminal activity on the radio. They also note quality of life problems (litter, appliances in the street, graffiti, etc.) and report these problems to the appropriate city departments. Wearing uniforms and carrying radios helps to identify the Citizens On Patrol groups as an official activity of the Police Department, and may also have a deterrent effect on crime. We also get to learn about our neighborhood and meet our neighbors, by walking down streets we might miss in our daily routine.

The requirements for Citizens On Patrol membership are set by the Cincinnati Police Department, and consist of an application, and 12 hours of training. To be an active member a Citizen must go on patrol at least once a month. We do walk, and the neighborhood is hilly, but if you have seen us in the neighborhood, you know that we are not setting land speed records, and we are always ready to slow down or pause for a moment.

Applications can be obtained at CUF meetings.

Remember, the more Citizens On Patrol members we have, the more we can patrol, and the more patrols we have, the more we can improve our neighborhood.