Kingston Police Community Volunteers are 'invaluable,' chief says

According to a new report, the Kingston Police Community Volunteers (KPCV) are vital to the city's security and safety.

Kingston Chief of Police Scott Fraser published his report, “Kingston Police Community Volunteers Annual Summary of Activities & Financial 2024,” on Wednesday, Mar. 12, 2025, in advance of the regular meeting of the Kingston Police Services Board taking place on Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025. In the report, Fraser describes a group of citizens who provide "invaluable" support to Kingston Police during all community events, contribute to increased engagement with the community, enhance service to Kingston, and are "integral to the realization of our crime prevention programs.”

Fraser notes that the community volunteers have been contributing to the safety and security of the Kingston community since 1996. “May 2024 marked their 28th year of proudly serving our community and Kingston Police. Next year (2026) will be the 30th anniversary of the formation of the Kingston Police Community Volunteers.” Kingstonist readers may recall that KPCV Co-founder and Coordinator Chris Phelan was recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his integral role and work with the KPCV.

The KPCV are directed by an elected executive and overseen by the staff sergeant in charge of the Community-Oriented Response and Engagement (CORE) Unit and the sergeant assigned to Crime Prevention within that unit. Fraser states that the KPCV's purpose is to assist the Kingston Police and the community with a pool of trained volunteers who are available to participate in various non-confrontational roles, including:

• Engaging in "eyes and ears” patrols, where volunteers walk, bicycle, or use certain KPCV marked and unmarked Kingston Police vehicles to patrol the city and watch for criminal activities or assist the public; 
• Assisting at public events and parades; 
• Conducting searches for missing persons or evidence from crime scenes; and 
• Representing the Kingston Police at public displays or exhibits. 

Volunteers cannot be used to undertake functions or activities that must be performed by members of the police service or by police officers pursuant to legislation. Because their role is a non-confrontational one, they may only observe and report while on patrol. Direct involvement with volunteers is prohibited, except when a Kingston Police officer or dispatcher tasks them otherwise. Nevertheless, Fraser emphasizes that volunteers are able to assist police in a variety of ways, and they are invaluable when additional resources are quickly needed. They also often help to resolve incidents through their “eyes and ears” patrols, the chief noted.

In 2024, Fraser points out, statistics show that “the KPCV have been very busy over the past year with more events as well as an increase of patrols in our community.”

The chief notes that “with things back to normal,” since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in community events like fun fairs around the city. The KPCV works at special events with the CORE Unit. 

KPC Volunteers also assist the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) with its Meals on Wheels program, delivering 90 frozen meals to seniors or people with disabilities every other week. 

“This is not only a great community project but it also shows that the KPCV & Kingston Police are very community orientated,” Fraser notes.

The KPCV have a team of 15 bike-trained volunteers who can patrol the local trails and subdivisions, Fraser says, noting, “Many people approach them to thank them for patrolling their neighbourhoods.” In 2024, they purchased three new patrol bikes for the team.

Last year, the KPCV assisted Kingston Police with a once-in-a-lifetime event, the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. Kingston Police stationed 18 volunteers at eight different viewing locations across the city to act as eyes and ears at these locations in case there were any problems.

“As illustrated, the KPCV provide an enhanced presence for the Kingston Police at innumerable community events,” the chief writes in his report. “Since the inception of the KPCV program, we have received many compliments on the presence of the volunteers at special events and the many activities in which they engage for the betterment of our community.” 

Fraser’s report lists some highlights of the KPCV's activities in 2024, which include:

• 'Cram the Cruiser' and other Food Bank food collections throughout the year
• Bike rallies and road races 
• Princess Street Promenade
• Kingston Police Community Fun Fair 
• Solar eclipse 
• Teddy Bear Picnic 
• 'Lock It or Lose It' campaign at various mall parking lots around the city, encouraging shoppers to lock their vehicles
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): audits were conducted in various locations at the request of residents and businesses 
• Meals on Wheels frozen food deliveries: volunteers assisted the VON with these
• St. Patrick’s Day street parties: delivered water and food to officers involved with the events and provided security at former Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute (KCVI) for the officers to use for breaks
• Queen's Homecoming weekend: delivered water and food to officers involved with the events and provided security at Dupuis Hall for the officers to use for breaks
• Remembrance Day services in City Park
• Peace Officers Memorial Run: assisted with traffic control
• Nighttime Santa Claus Parade: assisted with blocking streets for the parade to make the event safe for the public
• Intercultural festivals
• Pumpkin Patrol: supervising neighbourhoods on Halloween night
• Shop With a Cop: volunteers went shopping with school-aged children and helped them purchase gifts for family and friends 
• New Year's Eve events at two locations, Invista Centre and Confederation Basin
• Many concerts at Market Square

Financial report 

The main operating costs for the Community Volunteers are covered through an annual budget allocation. In 2024, $23,000 was budgeted for their needs. Among other things, this included uniforms, supplies, meeting expenses, repair maintenance costs for vehicles, education, training, and marketing expenses. However, the KPCV’s expenses were less than budgeted, coming in at $17,280.02, a savings of $5,719.98.

In addition, the Board Policy Respecting the Disposition of Unclaimed Property provides that proceeds from the sale of unclaimed property at auction may be used to fund appreciation events and/or extraordinary equipment costs, as approved during the annual budget process. Fraser explains that this is partly to recognize the KPCV's role in collecting abandoned bicycles, a task done by sworn officers in years past. 

In 2024 the bicycle auction earned $7,244.76 in proceeds, adding to a proceeds balance of $37,822.96. Of these funds, $16,179.61 went to an awards night, a bus trip, and a donation to the Special Olympics. The balance in the bicycle fund on December 31, 2024, was $28,888.11.

Following a recruitment drive in late September 2024, the KPCV have taken on four more volunteers who started in February 2025. 

Kingstonist will cover the meeting of the Kingston Police Services Board on Thursday, Mar. 20, 2025, and provide an update on this article.