Co-op Community Champion: Jackie Miranda

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — October’s Co-op Community Champion is the person behind Fort St. John’s Citizens On Patrol Society (COPS).

Jackie Miranda says the idea for the program came after a series of break-ins and other crimes in the community.

“We had a meeting with city council, went in front of them, and everyone was kind of just complaining,” Miranda says. 

“I was always taught that you kind of have to be part of the solution, not part of the problem, so it was just something I was researching, and I thought it would be a good avenue to get people that are upset about crime out there participating, instead of just sitting at home complaining about it.”

The COPS is a volunteer-run initiative where residents patrol parts of Fort St. John and the surrounding area, acting as eyes and ears for the local RCMP detachment.

“We just add extra eyes and ears to the community, and we work directly with the RCMP to see and report anything we see that’s suspicious to help deter crime,” Miranda explains.

According to Miranda, normally, members of the COPS initiative act as a deterrent to criminals, preventing crimes before they happen, offering an example from last year.

“Last summer, when they were paving Main Street, Peters Brothers had all their equipment parked at the end of Main Street towards the college,” she says. 

“One of our patrollers was driving by at about 1:30 in the morning and saw somebody suspicious in the parking lot with a trailer. Sure enough, the gentlemen quickly get into their truck and drive away with the trailer.”

That patroller contacted the RCMP, and because of their report, officers were able to prevent the theft of a piece of construction equipment.

Miranda encourages anyone interested in assisting the COPS or joining the society to request an application form by emailing COPSFSJ@gmail.com or by calling her at 250-261-0597.

Congratulations to Jackie Miranda on being named October’s Co-op Community Champion. Anyone looking to nominate a community-minded person who deserves recognition can go to Energeticcity.ca.