The Associated Press
LANCASTER, Ohio — A central Ohio sheriff forced to make do with a thinned-out staff and a tightened budget wants to create a citizen volunteer force to patrol his county at night and on weekends.
The proposal by Fairfield County Sheriff Dave Phalen is similar to what sheriffs and police chiefs across the country are putting in place as they deal with staffing shortages caused by budget problems or officers being called to active-duty military assignments.
Phalen is asking county commissioners for $100,000, which would help hire an additional deputy to schedule and supervise as many as 30 unarmed volunteers, dressed in ball caps and polo shirts, who would ride two to a cruiser as they patrol neighborhoods and businesses. They could also help with festivals.
The department already has about 20 auxiliary deputies -- volunteers who are trained, state-certified peace officers who have the power to arrest.
But Phalen’s new citizen patrol would not be authorized to make arrests, intervene in fights or chase suspects.
``We could have everyone from college students to senior citizens, primarily working in their neighborhoods, or we could assign them elsewhere,’' Phalen said. ``It’s a great opportunity to deter crime.’'
All volunteers would first have to pass a criminal background check and a training course.
Commissioner Mike Kiger said he’s intrigued by the idea but wants more time to study it before scheduling a vote.
About 100,000 volunteers serve law enforcement agencies nationwide, according to an estimate by the nonprofit National Association Citizens on Patrol, based in Corona, Calif.