Boynton police thank their citizen volunteers
Honored at a police picnic were people like Rita Hess (left), who rescued an unconscious woman.
BOYNTON BEACH — While on patrol in the Sausalito Place community of Boynton Beach, Rita Hess spotted an elderly woman facedown in her driveway. Hess pulled over, called 911 and stayed with the woman until first responders arrived.
“She was going for her newspaper, and she must have tripped and fell,” Hess recalled Wednesday.
Hess, 85, went into the woman’s home to make sure the stove wasn’t on and helped grab the woman’s medication and purse. An ambulance took the woman to the hospital, and she has recovered.
For her actions that day, about one week ago, Hess received a shout-out at an appreciation picnic for Boynton Beach Police’s Citizen Observer Patrol volunteers.
“I love it,” Hess said of volunteering. “I think it’s nice that you’re helping people and seeing what’s going on.”
The COP program started at least 10 years ago, said program head Crime Prevention Officer Denise Schrecengost. There are 360 volunteers, and about 250 attended the picnic at Intracoastal Park Clubhouse. Many of the volunteers are retired and some have already fled back north until season returns.
“They’re important because they’re our eyes and ears,” Schrecengost said. “We can’t have an officer in their communities 24/7. They’re out patrolling around the clock, some even patrol into the late hours.”
City officials, including Mayor Steven Grant, thanked the group at the picnic for their work. Grant updated them on what the city is doing to improve the police department and its work. He cited red-light cameras as helping to stop red-light runners, licenseplate readers as helping to catch criminals and a new, more efficient records system.
Commissioner Justin Katz said the volunteers’ work is the “icing
on the cake.”
The volunteers patrol Palm Beach Leisureville, Boynton Beach Leisureville, Village Royal on the Green, Boynton Intracoastal Group, High Point and the Sausalito Place/Royal Manor neighborhoods.
Last year, the volunteers racked up 14,727 hours on the road. That would have cost the city about $343,580, Schrecengost said.
The volunteers drive around in white Ford Focuses and wear uniforms. They don’t carry weapons, and they can’t make arrests. If they see a crime happening, they are instructed to call 911.
Volunteer Joe Ramos, a lieutenant, enjoys patrolling Sausalito Place and Royal Manor because he gets to know the residents.
“It’s not necessarily that you’re looking for anything negative, but you’re always looking for positive,” said Ramos, 78. “Neighbors, as you’re driving by, smile and wave at you. It’s such a good feeling.”
Schrecengost awarded Ramos, Theresa Kubiak and Wes Osborn at the picnic for going above and beyond in their volunteerism.
“Thank you,” Osborn, 67, said to Schrecengost after she called him up to the podium. “That was a surprise.”