On Her Watch
Ride in police car spurs desire to help
10:00 PM PDT on Sunday, July 16, 2006
Judy Roberts Eight-year volunteer at the Rialto Police Department Age: 63 Hometown: Rialto How to become Citizen Volunteer: 909-873-9644.
When Judy Roberts went on a ride-along with the Rialto Police Department eight years ago, she had no idea it would turn into the journey of a lifetime.
While responding to calls ranging from two men who were running out of a woman's garage with guns, to a missing child, Roberts said she realized she wanted to help the department and residents until age or illness stop her.
"If I had false teeth, they would have fallen out because my mouth was open the whole time," Roberts said. "But it was a great feeling."
Since her ride-along with then Rialto Officer Tim Roy, Roberts has volunteered at the department an average 25 to 30 hours a week.
Those hours have been instrumental during the rebuilding of the department following a now abandoned city plan to disband it, interim Chief Frank Scialdone said.
Roberts is a volunteer coordinator, whom police depend on to find volunteers at any hour of the day or night. She also takes care of children waiting to be picked up by Child Protective Services, runs the Neighborhood Watch program and patrols the city as a volunteer officer.
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"We are very shorthanded because of contracting issues and with us being 25 percent down some programs began to suffer," Scialdone said.
If not for Roberts, the Neighborhood Watch program would not exist, he said.
"We in the police department would struggle to survive if it weren't for the volunteer program because they can help us with things while officers patrol the streets and conduct investigations," he said.
As staffing levels fell, Roberts began running Neighborhood Watch orientation meetings to inform residents on how to get the program running in their area, Scialdone said.
A paid police staff member, who is accompanied by a volunteer, typically does that job, he said.
When Linda Chapman noticed her community on the north end of Pepper Avenue was deteriorating, she wanted help putting a stop to it.
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Roberts met with Chapman and several neighbors, and gave them information on how to start a Neighborhood Watch and what should be done to make the area safer, Chapman said.
Her information has helped form a Neighborhood Watch 500 homes strong, Chapman said.
"I think she is a wonderful person who has dedicated herself to the city and the Neighborhood Watch is her baby," Chapman said.
"She helps people get started to get their neighborhoods back. After that, it's up to the community to take action," Chapman said.
The most rewarding part of volunteering is the ability to help people when they need it and the gratitude that comes from those who are helped, Roberts said.
When the Rialto City Council voted last November to disband the department and contract with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for police protection, Roberts said she jumped into action.
"I spread the word that (the council) wanted to get rid of the department with 70 years of history," Roberts said.
"We got a petition going to get it so the people of Rialto could vote on it."
It didn't matter if the people signing the petition wanted the department disbanded, the goal was to make sure everyone in the city had a say, Roberts said.
Roy, who took Roberts on her first ride-along and is now with the Riverside Police Department, said her work was very helpful.
"She was vital in keeping the police department in Rialto," he said. "She was so motivated and had a huge impact on that."
"That just shows what motivation she has ... and that is great for any organization she touches."
Roberts said she just wants to make sure everyone has a voice.
Reach Massiel Ladrón De Guevara at 909-806-3054 or mdeguevara@PE.com
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