COEUR d'ALENE - There's no excuse for that.

So when able-bodied people take up a parking space reserved for the handicapped, Walt Kroon likes to tag the inconsiderate thieves with a $100 ticket.

"No business parking in that spot," Walt said of the space swipers.

Fact is, Walt volunteers his free time to catch such parking violators. He has been a member for two years of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department's Citizens on Patrol program.

And the department is looking for more people like Walt to train this fall so it can stretch its services across town.

"They've been amazing, an incredible resource for our patrol department," said Sgt. Christie Wood, "because they're able to get out in the neighborhoods when our officers are responding to other calls."

Priorities.

Burglaries, stabbings and under the influence drivers are more important calls for the men and women in blue than say, a sloppy parker or an abandoned vehicle. But the latter two need attention too, and as the saying goes, it takes a village.

"I think it's an excellent way to give back to the community," said Walt, on patrol Tuesday. "Everyone is stretched thin as far as budgets go. Consequently, the police department is no exception."

But, he said, it isn't for people who just want to play bad cop. You have to want to help.

And help they have.

Since March, when volunteers were authorized by the city to write parking citations, they've issued 197 of them, mostly at $15 per ticket. But there are the handicap space violators too, tagged with the $100 fine. They usually mark around 1,200 abandoned vehicles a year, too, for the program in its third year, with nine graduated volunteers.

Anyone over 18 and with a clean record can join. Graduates will be assigned to a patrol beat and drive a marked Citizens on Patrol car. They'll work in crime prevention programs, tow abandoned vehicles, help with traffic control and issue parking citations. They will not be armed but have a radio.

Classes, limited to 40 applicants, will be from 6-9 p.m. once a week at the police department from Sept. 14 to Oct. 26. Applications, available at the police department at 3818 Schreiber Way or at website www.cdapolice.org, must be received by Sept. 1.

Contact COPS Coordinator Paul McGraw or Wally Connally at 769-2320.