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SHARPS seeks 20 volunteers to beef up patrols
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Joan Barbera and Maureen McAleese listen attentively at their SHARP group meeting recently in the Manteca Senior Center building. - photo by GLENN KAHL

The Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police (SHARP) corps of volunteers supporting the Manteca Police Department is looking for nearly two dozen new members to increase their visibility in neighborhoods and shopping centers.

SHARP Captain Jack Snyder said there are currently 70 volunteers who patrol the city streets, direct traffic, remove graffiti, and look for illegal parking throughout the city and in shopping centers.

The operation was begun in 1991 by then police chief Willie Weatherford who is now Manteca’s mayor.   The first two senior volunteers were Nick Kaps and Diane Terrano, Snyder said.

The approach on painting over graffiti has changed since it was first started, Snyder said.  Now when  it is found on sound walls at the entrances to the city,  an attempt is made to match the paint color so it doesn’t look worse than it was before they started.

Volunteers are asked to work a minimum of four hours a week and they can pretty much pick their shifts.  Four days are used primarily to acquaint the new recruits with the operations from the use of the police radio to traffic control methods.

The SHARP members are provided with a uniform, jacket, cap and their badge – the basics.

Those interested in joining the ranks of SHARP, they may call Snyder at 823-7378.