The Citizens on Patrol (C.O.P.) is an organization of concerned citizens working within the community with the primary purpose of assisting their neighborhood in crime prevention by acting as additional “eyes and ears” for the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. The program is designed to educate interested individuals to problems unique to their neighborhood and to assist in developing a community patrol group. Citizens on Patrol volunteers do not possess police authority and will avoid any direct involvement which could pose a personal risk. Volunteers contribute their time and energy for organized patrols under the direction of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.

The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office will provide educational programs via the C.O.P. Academy and materials from time to time designed to inform the volunteers in the general topics of police functions, including legal issues, communications, property offenses, and patrol procedures. The educational presentations are designed to inform the citizens of certain aspects of the Sheriff’s Office operations and to give the volunteers some very basic procedures to follow while conducting their community patrol activities. Under no circumstances will members of C.O.P. represent themselves as deputy sheriff’s, nor are they authorized to take any action that would endanger life or property. Volunteers do not carry weapons of any kind while on patrol.

Citizens on Patrol is currently patrolling Gold Canyon, Queen Valley, San Tan Valley, Arizona City, Uninincorporated areas surrounding Apache Junction, Coolidge, Florence, Casa Grande, Hidden Valley, Thunderbird Farms, Stanfield, Oracle/Saddlebrook, San Manuel and Red Rock. The Pinal County Sheriff has provided “marked” patrol vehicles that are available for on-line scheduling 24/7; patrol shifts require a minimum of two hours and no more than eight hours.