Clergy Members, Urbana PD team up in new ride along program

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The Urbana Police Department will begin a program that aims to reduce community conflict with a new ride along program.

According to the Urbana Police Department, Pastor David Ashby will drive around with Behavior Health Detective Antwan Funches in a patrol around the city on Oct 5.

Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone started the Clergy Patrol at his former department in Virginia. According to the Urbana Police Department, the Clergy Patrol pairs local faith leaders and Urbana officers together. The goal of this pairing is to provide “spiritual support” at crime scenes and to help strengthen trust between police officers and residents.

The department also says they hope the Clergy Patrol will help to “foster understanding, reduce conflicts and promote healing” in Urbana.

Because of the new Clergy Patrol Program, the Urbana Police Department was featured in the International Association of Chiefs of Police magazine, Police Chief . “Spotlight: A Peace and Safety Patrol,” discusses the background of Clergy Patrol, and the goals the department hopes to accomplish with the new program.

The first ride-along with a clergy member will be at the Urbana City Hall on Saturday evening, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

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