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Friday, February 5, 2010

Suspicious Subjects Beware, Citizens are on Patrol

HAMILTON — Michael Halcomb and Tom Long are nosey. They are always on the lookout for shadows in the night, something out of place or just plain suspicious activity in Butler County neighborhoods.

And residents dont mind a bit.

Halcomb of Trenton and Tom Long, a Hamilton resident, team up regularly to be the eyes and ears of the sheriffs office as part of the Citizens on Patrol program. Both laughed when asked if the pay is good.

Oh, I have mine direct deposit, said Long, a 70-year-old retiree, with a laugh.

They, like the eight other COP members, are volunteers.

Patrolling in a special cruiser with a yellow light bar, COP members assist deputies with traffic control at crashes and fires, aid to stranded motorists and making vacation checks for residents who call the sheriffs office for security when they are out of town.

They really free up deputies to do more pressing duties, said Lt. Jean Collett, support service superior in charge of the unit.

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