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8 | SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | NOVEMBER 2019 | By Joe Formino, Chairman, District Delegate Assembly A few years ago we had a Community Patrol that did not do an acceptable job for Sun Lakers. Many of you voiced your opinion about their operation and insisted that they should be replaced. The Directors gathered information from the residents listing their desires of what a patrol should do for us. When the "wish list" was completed, it was translated to dollars and cents. The residents had listed so many tasks that the cost was almost beyond our means. The Board of Directors had to evaluate what we needed and what we were able to pay for. They established a program of more and better coverage along with two "rovers" or patrol cars on the road 24 hours a day patrolling our streets. Obviously, the report listed far more coverage than in the past and the cost reflected the massive changes. Some of the additions were: man Gate 5 all day for vendors to reduce the delays for our guests at the Main Gate; more cameras at all of the gates to screen the actions at the gates; more intense questioning at the Main Gate of guests to insure the guests were legitimate; revamping the residents guests lists; 24-hour Dispatch and Security Room for monitoring all of the cameras; better communication between Officers and the Main Gate, between residents and Main Gate; better supervision and training of officers; and the list goes on and on. All of the data above translates into dollars, far more than we have paid in the past. The Board of Directors placed many of these items in the RFP (Request for Purchase) and sent it to many of the Security Companies contracted by other HOAs. One of the best qualified companies submitting a bid was Securitas. At the time, Securitas was patrolling Walmart parking lots. Our Community Patrol are NOT cops. There are many actions they cannot perform. For example, they cannot arrest anyone, they cannot detain anyone, if an illegal act occurs, the officers will report the incident to the Banning P. D. Further, they cannot enter your property without your approval, they cannot search your property, even with your approval. Only cops can perform a search. It is apparent that our Community Patrol is limited by law. It is also apparent that our residents have been delinquent in their own safety. We have the personal responsibility of locking our doors, locking our cars, closing our garage doors, reporting any suspicious people or incident in our neighborhoods. The worse infraction is not controlling our guests or informing them of our rules. Many of the thefts occurring at Sun Lakes are by guests of our residents. These are changing times. We do not have the honesty and integrity of yesteryear nor the assuming of personal responsibility. Maybe it is time for us to establish a "Neighborhood Watch Program!" District Delegate Assembly Report Join us for District 21's Annual Christmas Brunch at the Main Clubhouse on Fri., Dec. 6. Doors open at 10:30 am with a buffet brunch at 11 am. Please bring your friends as it is open to all. It is $25 pp. Champagne will be served with brunch. Take your checks to the box at Bobbi Kremer's home at 5248 Breckenridge by Dec. 2. For info ,contact Bobbi at (951) 845-6907. District 21's Annual Xmas Brunch

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