CINCINNATI — Police departments often rely on the public to be their eyes and ears in the community, and many have a citizen patrol unit that helps with that.

A day as a citizen patroller starts at the local Cincinnati Police District. For Mary Fichter, she’s been doing this for seven years.

“We check on things in the neighborhood that we see," Fichter said. "Sometimes it can be tall grass. Itcan be illegal dumping.”

Fichter and her patrol partners spend time in the car looking out for their community of Westwood.

“If people leave their cars unlocked, it’s a come-and-get-me type situation," she said. "These guys go to parking lots looking for that. So, we try to keep an eye on that.”

They also spend time on foot with police radios in hand, patrolling the neighborhoods. Fitcher said the volunteer position is something she enjoys doing and feels a responsibility toward.

“Everyone should get involved in some way with that civic responsibility," she said. "And this is one of those ways.”

Fichter said not as many people feel that way, especially after many of the volunteers dropped out due to COVID.

“Even when we were able to come back and start patrolling, some people were not ready to do it," she said.

Now, she’s hoping for some new young blood.

“It would be nice to get some new people into the unit," Fichter said. "Some younger people into the unit. I mean, some of us are getting up there in age.”

To help with keeping their neighborhood clean and report anything suspicious.

Fichter hopes whoever joins knows it's fun, too.

Click here if you are interested in joining the citizens patrol unit in Cincinnati, or contact your local police department if you are interested in doing it in another part of the state.