California seniors police patrol

California seniors police patrol

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When you think of a police car patrolling the streets of a U.S. city, the first thing that comes to mind may not be an 88-year-old World War II veteran teamed up with a pilot from the Vietnam war – unless you’re travelling through San Diego, California.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol, or RSVP, as they’re known, started in 1997 when police asked for volunteers to help check on the elderly in their homes and monitor the empty houses of people away on holiday.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

The success of the program, where anyone over the age of 50, retired or semi-retired could apply to volunteer, led to the San Diego Police Department’s traffic division requesting a unit of their own to help with traffic at the scene of accidents and parking complaints.

“I’m happy to get out there and do my thing and at the same time release a police officer to do real police work,” said Steve Rubin, who retired as a paramedic in Los Angeles in 2008.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

He is one of 48 volunteers, including 6 women, forming unarmed patrols in all-white police cars complete with sirens, flashing lights, computers systems and police radios.

There are times when the public isn’t sure what to make of them.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake
Robles explains parking regulations to the roommate of a truck owner.

Some volunteers in the RSVP unit were airline pilots, others were in the military. Whatever their former career, they all get trained how to spot stolen vehicles and enforce parking regulations.

They run patrols from 6am until midnight responding to traffic accidents and fires, using computerised licence-plate readers to locate missing vehicles.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

“I love it,’ said Ed Robles, a World War II veteran who retired from teaching in Long Island in 1991, then moved to San Diego. He’s been a volunteer for about 16 years.

Over time the retired volunteers have become an asset to the regular officers of the San Diego Police Department, coming to the aid of people whose vehicle has broken down or been in an accident. That helps lighten the load for regular officers.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

“They thank us for all the help,” Robles said, citing the example of a traffic accident. Starting with five or six police patrol cars, the arrival of RSVP volunteers to redirect traffic allows two of three patrol cars to move on to other police work, as they are no longer needed. “They show so much appreciation that it’s worth doing what we’re doing.”

All the volunteers seemed thrilled to be back doing something useful and at the same time, they conceded, a little bit exciting.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

“I thought retirement would be sitting on my butt watching TV,” said ex-paramedic Rubin. ”That worked for about a month and then I came over to RSVP because I needed something to do. I thought it would be interesting and I could do something for the community.”

Men make up the majority of the RSVP crew. Their wives, I was told time and again, were happy to see their husbands stay active and get involved in the community. Having their menfolk out from under their feet was an added bonus.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Robles, who first got involved with RSVP five years after he stopped paid work, sees himself carrying on with the patrols as long as the 88-year-old’s health allows. “I don’t know when I’ll retire from it.”

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Slideshow

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol member John Joyce takes part in the guard of honour as he participates in San Diego's St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol member John Joyce takes part in the guard of honour as he participates in San Diego's St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol administrator Robert Stewart checks his phone as he attends San Diego's St. Patrick's Day Parade with serving police officers.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol administrator Robert Stewart checks his phone as he attends San Diego's St. Patrick's Day Parade with serving police officers.

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol member John Joyce takes part in the guard of honour as he participates in San Diego's annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol member John Joyce takes part in the guard of honour as he participates in San Diego's annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

88-year-old Ed Robles throws a safety vest to partner Dick Engel after directing traffic at the scene of a car accident.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

88-year-old Ed Robles throws a safety vest to partner Dick Engel after directing traffic at the scene of a car accident.

Dick Engel calls into police dispatch as he and partner Ed Robles respond to an accident during their patrol.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Dick Engel calls into police dispatch as he and partner Ed Robles respond to an accident during their patrol.

Robert Stewart, Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol administrator, works at his desk in the San Diego Police traffic office.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Robert Stewart, Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol administrator, works at his desk in the San Diego Police traffic office.

Members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol take the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of a group meeting.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Members of the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol take the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of a group meeting.

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol members Steve Rubin and Robert Stewart push a stalled motor home out of traffic during their patrol.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol members Steve Rubin and Robert Stewart push a stalled motor home out of traffic during their patrol.

88-year-old Ed Robles marks a car's position on the road while dealing with a parking complaint.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

88-year-old Ed Robles marks a car's position on the road while dealing with a parking complaint.

A patrol volunteer fills out expired registration paperwork.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

A patrol volunteer fills out expired registration paperwork.

Henry Miller (right) drives on patrol with partner Steve Rubin as they search for a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Henry Miller (right) drives on patrol with partner Steve Rubin as they search for a vehicle involved in a hit and run accident.

Steve Rubin (left) and  Henry Miller grab a meal while out on patrol.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Steve Rubin (left) and Henry Miller grab a meal while out on patrol.

Patrol members Steve Rubin, Henry Miller and Robert Stewart wait for a tow truck to help a stranded motorist.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Patrol members Steve Rubin, Henry Miller and Robert Stewart wait for a tow truck to help a stranded motorist.

Patrol member and traffic administrator Robert Stewart places illuminated safety markers on the road after helping a stranded motorist.
. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake

Patrol member and traffic administrator Robert Stewart places illuminated safety markers on the road after helping a stranded motorist.

. SAN DIEGO, UNITED STATES. REUTERS/Mike Blake