It is extra observers by the truck and busload. West Vancouver residents have extra eyes looking out for their safety thanks to a new team effort involving Police, District of West Vancouver and West Vancouver Transit workers.

Mayor Pamela Goldsmith-Jones joined West Vancouver Police and Municipal staff today to officially unveil District Watch. The crime prevention program will capitalize on the day to day presence of municipal workers conducting duties throughout the District of West Vancouver.

Under District Watch workers are asked to be alert to any unusual or suspicious persons or circumstances and to report the circumstances to police. If Police are looking for a particular person or vehicle, District Watch also sets out new procedures for the information to be relayed immediately to all radio equipped District of West Vancouver and Transit vehicles. Staffing levels vary by the time of day, but the program can bring the attention of over 110 mobile municipal workers to any urgent need to locate a person or vehicle. The District of West Vancouver has over 130 radio equipped municipal, fire and transit vehicles allowing for immediate distribution of District Watch information.

“Alert firefighters, municipal and transit workers helping West Vancouver Police watch for criminal activity or suspects isn’t new,” says Chief Cst Peter Lepine, “District Watch will build on that valued support and provide our co-workers easy reporting procedures to document observations after Police are contacted.”

District of West Vancouver Chief Administrative Officer Grant McRadu welcomes the program and the opportunity for District Staff to help Police.

“West Vancouver Municipal Employees have a commitment to the community, and strong knowledge of the areas they work in.” says McRadu, “I want to thank our staff for their commitment to making our community even safer and for being alert to unusual or suspicious circumstances. If Police need to find a particular person or vehicle the more eyes on the task the better.”