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St. Petersburg police add volunteer patrols to Pinellas Trail

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Pinellas Trail

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TBO.com

Published: June 5, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG - To help combat crime on the Pinellas Trail, the St. Petersburg Police Department has instituted a volunteer patrol program.

The so-called Volunteer Trail Patrol comprises volunteers riding bicycles and riding golf carts, said Jennifer Dawkins, a spokeswoman for the St. Petersburg Police Department. It is a subsection of the department's long-standing volunteer program.

Those astride bicycles have undergone an 8-hour training class on how to safely and properly ride a bicycle. Those volunteers who chose not to ride the bicycles, and who still want to patrol the trail, will drive the police department's golf carts.

The volunteers – who do not have either arresting or investigative powers – will report on whatever graffiti they come across, along with safety hazards, Dawkins said. They will also assist citizens using the trail.

The program got underway in mid-May, Dawkins said. The volunteers range in age from 40 to 72. There are nine volunteers, and they are being supervised by Police Officer Tonia Nave, Dawkins said.

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