By Rusty Bradshaw
Twitter: @SunCitiesEditor

The COVID pandemic put a hold on it, but the Sun City Posse leaders are now ready to start looking into the future.

The continued forward motion planned for the Posse will be unveiled in the new three-year long range plan expected to be rolled out in November at the monthly general meeting, 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3 at the Posse headquarters, 10861 W. Sunland Drive. The LRP will be a roadmap for the Posse to follow to allow it to maintain and expand services, such as increased patrols, additional community service events, improved internal information technology support systems and recruitment of new Posse members, according to Richard Nonini, Sun City Posse commander.

Posse leaders put an emphasis on recruitment this fall.

“We are a people-driven organization — people are our most important resource,” Mr. Nonini said. “All the money and technology we can have will not be any use without people to provide the services. We want people to realize the simple things we do to protect the Sun City lifestyle.”

Each month, individual Posse members may be acknowledged for outstanding service through the Make-A-Difference award program. Most recently that recognition went to Butch Kurth, Rocki FImmel, Randy Roberts and Bob Ritala for steps taken individually to ensure safety of Sun City residents.

While 2020 has been a strange year with many challenges across the country, especially in Sun City, the Posse continued to provide services.

“I had concerns in the early spring whether the Posse could continue to fill all the gaps that the onset of the pandemic had created among the ranks of the Sun City Posse,” Mr. Nonini said. “But we have kept our main dervices going,”

During an appreciation dinner for all Posse members, conducted over two nights in order to meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distancing guidelines, Mr. Nonini and the Board of Governors directors praised the members’ work for rising to the challenge and continuing street patrols. To accomplish this, however, it meant patrol members took on additional shifts, dispatchers worked from home, maintenance crews implemented CDC guidelines for safety in the Posse facilities, staff revamped meeting formats and much more, according to Mr. Nonini.

Posse officials purchased two new radio-equipped vehicles. They are ready for service and added to the current fleet of 10 SUVs and sedans and one service truck. Posse members work to keep all vehicles well maintained and regularly serviced to ensure safety for those on patrol and in the community. This work is done in the garage behind the headquarters.

In the fourth quarter of 2020, December will be the election of new members added to the Board of Governors and a new slate of officers. But the long-term commitment of the Posse remains constant, according to Mr. Nonini.

“Changes and adjustments will continue to be made as the circumstances caused by the pandemic necessitate,” he said. “It is with optimism that the Sun City Posse looks forward to finishing the year strong and preparing to serve the Sun City community even better in 2021.”

Visit suncityposse.org for information about the organization and how to join its ranks.