Safety Patrol

	In 1936 Sergeant Peter Doorigan of the Windsor Police Service recognized a need for a safety system, too get school children to and from school. After a visit to Detroit Police Department the first Safety Patrol in Canada was established in Windsor Ontario, at St. Alphonsis School. Fifteen boys were employed as Safety Patrol on March 8^th 1937. The Border City Star nicknamed these boys “Doorigan’s Boys”. In its first year of operation these Safety Patrollers accounted for a decrease in injuries and deaths from 144 injuries and 2 deaths in 1936, to 96 injuries and 1 death in 1937. The Safety Patrol of the 21^st Century in Windsor has grown to 1500 boys and girls who carry the responsibility of caring for the safety of 50,000 children going to and coming from school each day. They still cross children at busy corners in the rain, snow, hot days and cold days. These Patrollers are truly Hero’s in our minds. The number of lives saved since 1937 will never be known. It has been over 10 years since a death of any elementary student has occurred on the streets of Windsor. This fact is greatly due to the dedication of these boys and girls of the Windsor-Essex Safety Patrol Association.

	Each year in May, the Windsor Police Service is committed to the Ottawa Safety Patrol Jamboree. Our Community Service Unit will make arrangements for the best 42 Patrollers to attend this Jamboree. These 42 boys and girls, who are the best of the best, will be known as Dorrigan’s Patrol, First in Canada. Recently the Windsor Police Community Service Unit escorted a group of Outstanding Safety Patrols to Ottawa. This once in a lifetime 3 day trip included stops at Parliament Hill, Carleton University, as well as a guided tour inside the Old Carleton County Jail which is now HAUNTED!! Special thanks goes out to our sponsors: Windsor Police Services Board, Windsor Police Association, Greater Essex County District School Board, CAW Amalgamated Local 195, CAW Local 2458, Riverside Sertoma Club, Scotiabank-East Park Centre, University of Windsor Campus Police, Essex Schools' Safety Patrol, Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, and the Essex Elementary OECTA Windsor.