Riding Along with a Detroit Citizens Radio Patrol Team

Two South Warrendale residents patrol their neighborhood with WDET in tow

In 1967, Detroit established citizen radio patrols to cruise the neighborhoods with CB radios and provide extra pairs of eyes and ears to help police officers.

Fifty years later, about 40 of these neighborhood organizations are active, and officials are hoping to add patrols.

The city  is hosting an appreciation and recruitment night for the patrols on Monday, March 20 at the Redford Theatre. If you’re curious about what it would be like to be on one of these patrols you can read the bylaws online.

You can also listen to the ride along that WDET did with a husband-and-wife team who are members of the South Warrendale Radio Patrol. Click on the audio link above.

On this night, Vice President Barb Matney rides in the passenger seat while her husband, Joe Matney, takes the wheel.

WDET/Laura Herberg 

WDET/Laura Herberg

WDET/Laura Herberg

WDET/Laura Herberg

WDET/Laura Herberg

WDET/Laura Herberg

WDET/Laura Herberg

WDET/Laura Herberg

 

Author

  • Laura Herberg is a civic life reporter for Outlier Media, telling the stories about people inhabiting the Detroit region and the issues that affect us here.