Twenty-six Kaneohe Marines have volunteered off-duty time to patrol Kailua Beach Park.
Lance Cpls. James Randall, 24, and Seks Wilson, 20, among the first to patrol during the program's launch yesterday, were highly visible as they walked the sandy beach side-by-side wearing T-shirts marked "Neighborhood Security Watch." The logo also said, "If I don't call the police, my neighbors will."
Randall of Biloxi, Miss., said they went through a one-hour class to prepare for the task. "All we do basically is call the police. We see something, and we report it," he said.
"We're the eyes and ears," added Wilson of Long Island, N.Y.
Having Marines as nonconfrontational observers at Kailua Beach is a move to improve community-military cooperation in public safety, they said.
If they see someone breaking into a rented car, all they do is call police with descriptions, license-plate numbers and other relative data, Randall said.
Randall spoke of Marines wanting to first police their own, then assist Honolulu police. He also noted both military and civilian theft victims in recent times, especially tourists.
A little farther up the beach, police Officer Ellen Nishiyama and Renee Valdov, coordinator of the Single Marines Program, also watched the blue water, white sand and beach-goers. "We have citizen patrols all around the Island, but this is the first citizens beach program we have," Nishiyama said, adding that police and Marines sometimes walk together. Beat officers and a police sergeant stop by to keep in touch with the beach patrol, she said.
Valdov said a program sidelight is that it aims to enhance the quality of life for unmarried Marines. That includes beach safety, she said.
A former Marine, Valdov now is a civilian employee of the U.S. Department of Defense. She coordinates and networks with both military and civilian agencies in her role for the new program.
The Kaneohe Marines initially will patrol one Sunday a month, though their patrol periods may increase as time goes on, she said. Anyone can volunteer, military and civilians alike, she said.
Beach-goers immediately took to the idea, Valdov said. "They'll ask questions, and we answer them."
Two beach-going Kailua teachers both thought the idea is great.
"There are a lot of tourists that come through here," said Michelle Klein, 22, who teaches special education. "It's nice to know that there are people walking around."
It's important for someone to keep an eye on things, she said. "I'm originally from New York, so I only have to say I don't trust anybody."
Rebecca Mathews, 22, an eighth-grade teacher at Kailua Intermediate School, agreed on the program's good. "You feel much safer knowing that there are people around."