Replies

Wendy Dorival is Sanford’s volunteer coordinator for the Police Department. She helped train Zimmerman. She stated that those involved in neighborhood-watch programs are supposed to be “the eyes and ears” for the police, “not a vigilante.” Specifically, she said, members “are not supposed to confront anyone. We get paid to get into harm’s way. You don’t do that. You just call them from the safety of your home or your vehicle.” She added that carrying and using a gun on patrol violates protocols.

Furthermore, the National Sheriffs’ Association, which sponsors the neighborhood-watch program nationwide, is 100% clear in its manual on this point as well: “Patrol members do not carry weapons,” have no police power, and should “not attempt to apprehend a person committing a crime or to investigate a suspicious activity.” Lastly, not following the guidelines can result in serious consequences: “Each member is liable as an individual for civil and criminal charges should he exceed his authority.”

My wife and I were active COP (citizens on patrol) members in our city. My wife is a dispatcher for the city police department. We had occasion to witness a traffic collision while sitting the parking lot of Walgreens. We had traffic cones in place and directed traffic within 30 seconds. The officer arrived in about 4 minutes. The hit and run driver was apprehended in the Walmart parking lot by the officer. A second officer arrived and placed his traffic cones in place and we retrieved ours. Total time about 15 minutes. That's how it's supposed to work. We both have a CCW, but don't carry while on COP per department policy. We were not on an official "shift" at the time the incident occurred. We might very well have had our CCW weapons in hand, but did not that day.

Thanks for the infor Alice

When FV and I were discussing this yesterday, a statement was made that watch participants were not to be armed. I questioned if that was a law or just a policy suggestion.

Your info further clarifies that there is indeed no law against carrying while on watch, its only a "matter of policy" as I suspected would be the case.