May – June 2008
In this issue:
- Frederick County, Maryland, Sheriff's Office
- Sulphur Springs, Texas, Police Department
- Davenport, Iowa, Police Department
- Marana, Arizona, Police Department
- Beavercreek, Ohio, Police Department
- Clayton, California, Police Department
- Tallahassee, Florida, Police Department and Tallahassee, Florida, Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association
- Flower Mound, Texas, Police Department
- Laconia, New Hampshire, Police Department
- Gulf Breeze, Florida, Police Department
- Park Police Volunteer Association, Riverdale, Maryland
- Long Beach, California, Police Department
- Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
- Lee County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
- Mesa, Arizona, Police Department
- Watsonville, California, Police Department
- Flagler County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
Frederick County, Maryland, Sheriff's Office
‘Summit’ teaches seniors to protect themselves
May 01, 2008
Standing in front of a group of seniors, Det. Jeff Norris ticked off a list of phrases that should raise red flags during a phone call with a telemarketer or through mail solicitations. "Nothing in the world is free. Keep that in the back of your head,” Norris said to the nearly 30 seniors gathered at the Frederick County Health Department for a ‘‘senior summit” on personal safety and avoiding the dangers of scams that target the elderly. The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and Frederick Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) council organized the three-hour workshop. The Frederick SALT council is a volunteer group of Frederick County senior residents and senior advocates that meets monthly with local law enforcement to discuss important issues and to share information. The organization helps seniors build lines of communication with local law enforcement and helps officers to hear, see, and interact with them before a crime occurs.
VIPS Program Page | Frederick County Sheriff's Office | Maryland Gazette
Sulphur Springs, Texas, Police Department
Submitted by the Texas Citizen Corps Council
May 01, 2008
This spring, the Sulphur Springs Police Department honored their VIPS at an awards ceremony. Police Chief Jim Bayuk and Volunteer Coordinator Lt. Rex Morgan proudly presented 15 of their volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award and a Certificate of Recognition from Texas Governor Rick Perry. In addition to expressing his appreciation to the volunteers, Chief Bayuk reminded them of the valuable contribution they have each made to their community. By utilizing volunteers at local shopping areas, the police department noted that there had been a decrease in vehicle burglaries and shoplifting where the volunteers patrolled. Sulphur Springs Police Department has also utilized volunteers to assist them in issuing handicapped parking citations. Volunteers Bobby Brown, Dan Phillips, Delores Brown, John Forister, Lisa Hooten, Mike Whittacre, Phillip Anderson, Randell Blakemore, Tom Sanderson, and Yolanda Williams were presented with this honor. Three volunteers, Becky Sanderson, David Bennett, and Joyce Vanginault, dedicated 250 – 499 hours of community service and received the silver President’s Volunteer Service Award. Lisa Birney worked over 500 hours and was the lone recipient of the gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
VIPS Program Page | Sulphur Springs Police Department
Davenport, Iowa, Police Department
Police say gas drive-offs increasing
May 06, 2008
The theft of gasoline from retail dealers such as service stations and convenience type stores in Davenport has shown a steady increase during the first quarter of 2008. James Warner, a member of the Volunteers in Police Service, works diligently on a daily basis reviewing, tracking, and contacting people whose vehicles are identified in the thefts. Some of thefts are resolved with the business being paid for their loss. In cases of repeat violations and where sufficient evidence is present the owners are ticketed or arrested.
VIPS Program Page | Davenport Police Department | Quad Cities Online
Marana, Arizona, Police Department
Submitted by the Marana Police Department
May 15, 2008
In Marana, AZ, many in the population and in the VIPS program are seasonal residents, fondly referred to as “snowbirds." Due to their desire to flock out of town before the heat arrives, the police department holds their recognition event a bit earlier than National Volunteer Week. In 2007, the department had the support of 60 VIPS who contributed almost 7,300 hours to the department and town through neighborhood patrol, business security checks, and provided many public services along with supporting numerous town and community events. This year, the recognition event was a dinner served at a local country club. Special guests included police commanders, the town Council and mayor who each delivered a heartfelt thank you to all those who gave back to their community.
VIPS Program Page | Marana Police Department
Beavercreek, Ohio, Police Department
Council recognizes COPP program grads
May 14, 2008
Nine members of the newest class of the Beavercreek Police Department's Citizens on Preventive Patrol (COPP) were recognized by city council recently. The class began its training on Feb. 4th. During eight weeks of training, they completed over 48 hours of classroom instruction, 40 hours of dispatch/patrol observation and a variety of hands-on training activities. After graduation, the new members will complete a field training period where they will patrol with veteran COP members until they are released to solo status.
VIPS Program Page | Beavercreek Police Department | Beavercreek News-Current
Clayton, California, Police Department
Submitted by the Clayton Police Department
May 15, 2008
The Clayton VIPS program was passed by resolution in October 2006 by the City Council. The first group of five volunteers began duty in February 2007. The program has grown to have eight volunteers. In the first full year of the VIPS Program, the volunteers provided 807 hours. Two volunteers provided over 100 hours this year, earning them the President's Volunteer Service Award. With 183 hours provided to Clayton Police Department, Herb Yonge has earned a Bronze Service Award, and with 269 hours provided to Clayton Police Department, Jim Webb has earned a Silver Service Award.
VIPS Program Page | Clayton Police Department
Tallahassee, Florida, Police Department and Tallahassee, Florida, Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association
Police raise money for community programs with ball
May 18, 2008
Tallahassee police officers exchanged their uniforms for evening wear on a recent Saturday when they attended the eighth annual Police Ball. The ball is a fundraiser held at the Florida State University Center Club for the Tallahassee Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association, which distributes the money to benefit the Tallahassee Police Department's community programs, said Gerald Jaski, president of the association. Last year between $15,000 and $18,000 was raised, not including in-kind contributions. About 200 people attended this year. The association provides another source of funds when the Police Department can't get enough through grants. The money has been used to pay for protocol handbooks for each officer to have in his or her patrol car. It has also gone toward supporting the Rape Aggression Defense classes, which teach self defense to women. The association is made up of citizens who have graduated from the 10 week Citizen's Police Academy. The academy is held three times a year with up to 24 students per class.
VIPS Program Page--Tallahassee Police Department | VIPS Program Page--Tallahassee Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association | Tallahassee Police Department | Tallahassee Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association | Tallahassee Democrat
Flower Mound, Texas, Police Department
Flower Mound Police to celebrate Emergency Services Volunteer Assistance program with fair and expo on May 23
May 21, 2008
The Flower Mound Police Department and the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association hosted a Volunteer Fair and Equipment Expo to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the Emergency Services Volunteer Assistance program. The event will feature members of Flower Mound’s various volunteer organizations including the Citizen Patrol Group. The Flower Mound Police Department recently implemented the CPG to assist the department in securing a high quality of life for Flower Mound residents and to ensure the Town remains one of the safest communities in North Texas. The 65 Police Department volunteer members have already served more than 950 volunteer hours.
VIPS Program Page | Flower Mound Police Department | Pegasus News
Laconia, New Hampshire, Police Department
Commission honors police dept. employees
May 24, 2008
The Laconia Police Commission recognized the officers, staff, and volunteers of the Laconia Police Department for their service during ceremonies at the Weirs Community Center. One of the honored at this event was Malcolm Murray, who was named Volunteer of the Year. Murray began volunteering with the department's Victim Services unit in 2007 and also serves as a sexual offender registration compliance monitor. He is currently assisting with the formation of the Citizen's Police Academy, which the Laconia Police Department hopes to implement this fall.
VIPS Program Page | Laconia Police Department | The Citizen of Laconia
Gulf Breeze, Florida, Police Department
Gulf Breeze Police Department makes great strides with traffic safety
May 29, 2008
The number of crashes within city limits has decreased by 24.6 percent between 2003-2007. The decrease of 223 crashes over past 4 years equals on average one life saved; 34 injuries prevented and $1,115,000 in property damages saved according to data compiled by the GBPD. Police Chief Peter Paulding credits the Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.) volunteer program among the efforts that lead to this result. The award-winning V.I.P. program has tallied 4408 volunteer hours, 44,266 miles driven, 1,199 violations noted and 188 motorists assisted. The GBPD has also shared surplus cruisers and V.I.P. volunteers with municipalities after Hurricane Katrina and in support of traffic control during Blue Angels weekend, the Gulf Breeze Christmas parade, on shopping center patrols, and in the Seniors vs. Crime program.
VIPS Program Page | Gulf Breeze Police Department | Gulf Breeze News
Park Police Volunteer Association, Riverdale, Maryland
Submitted by the Park Police Volunteer Association
May 30, 2008
Anthony Holmes is now the former President of the Park Police Volunteer Association, having stepped down in May of 2008 although he remains active. He received the 2007 Commander's Award by the Maryland-National Capital Park Police for Prince George's County, Maryland. Mr. Holmes is recognized for his significant contributions to the Park Police Volunteer Association including serving as President of the Association for several years and tireless work with other PPVA activities throughout the year that aided the Division's efforts.
VIPS Program Page | Park Police Volunteer Association
Long Beach, California, Police Department
Blues and Gray --- A Senior Patrol for Seniors
June 03, 2008
The Long Beach Police Department's Senior Police Partners are a group of volunteers ages 55 and older who offer advice and assistance to the senior community. They're specially trained to recognize crimes such as elder abuse and fraud, and assist police in grief counseling. They also act as the "eyes and ears of the police department," helping with parking enforcement, safety patrols and graffiti reporting. Formed in 1995, the program currently has 19 volunteers who work an average of about 20 hours a month. The oldest volunteer is 84. LBPD started the program as a way to serve the needs of seniors, but Hunter says it also serves the needs of retirees looking for ways to give back. In 2006, the partners assisted more than 150 seniors between the months of January and September, according to LBPD reports. A majority of these referrals were sent from LBPD's Detective Bureau and Adult Protective Services. In Los Angeles County, 14,471 cases of elder abuse on adults 65 and older were reported in 2007, according to Adult Protective Services.
VIPS Program Page | Long Beach Police Department | Press-Telegram
Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
Sign out: Palm Beach County honors sign pickers
June 03, 2008
Volunteers were honored by the county commission this morning for pulling thousands of illegal signs from roads and telephone poles in southern Palm Beach County. Volunteers yanked nearly 5,000 signs last year as part of the sheriff's Citizens Observer Patrol. In the first three months of this year they collected roughly 1,800 signs. The pilot program has been so successful, sheriff's officials have expanded it to other parts of the county. The signs - staked in the ground along the county's most traveled thoroughfares - have been an ongoing problem for code enforcement officers.
VIPS Program Page | Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office | Palm Beach Post
Lee County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
Sheriff’s office wants to expand volunteer role
June 03, 2008
During the past three years, Jack Dooling has scratched out 1,023 citations on Lee County Sheriff's Office letterhead. For the past 10 years, he's been a sheriff's office volunteer, also known as a VOICE (Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Effort) member. In tough economic times, with frozen salaries and dwindling equipment budgets, the value of volunteers in law enforcement is more significant than ever, Sgt. Petracca said. Dooling and the other 129 sheriff's VOICE members provided $726,845 in services last year. This year, the value of their hours have totaled $364,388 -working DUI checkpoint details, managing traffic, helping stranded motorists, tagging abandoned vehicles, and assisting administration.
VIPS Program Page | Lee County Sheriff's Office | News Press
Mesa, Arizona, Police Department
Volunteers help Mesa with translating 911 calls
June 07, 2008
Mesa resident Ed Gonzalez said America has given him so many opportunities that now he wants to give back. The 30-year-old Costco baker has begun volunteering about 16 hours a week to translate Spanish calls for Mesa police 911 dispatchers. The city is hoping to bring in other volunteers like Gonzalez and expand the volunteer program to save money on costly translation services. Police Chief George Gascón came up with the idea for the volunteer program after department analysts figured out how much translation services were costing the city. Gonzalez, who will take his citizenship test in July, came to the U.S. from Mexico more than five years ago and hopes to someday become a police officer.
VIPS Program Page | Mesa Police Department | East Valley Tribune
Watsonville, California, Police Department
Police set up post-incident team as approach to fight violent crime
June 09, 2008
In a new strategy to confront violent crime, Watsonville police and the city’s Neighborhood Services Division launched a program that will send volunteers into neighborhoods and reach out to residents following shootings or other traumatic events. Called a Community Post Incident Team, the new group will become liaisons between neighborhoods and the police department. Working side- by-side with police officers, these volunteers will try to reduce the number of violent crimes in Watsonville, develop helpful intelligence for police, strengthen the relationship between the city and the community and encourage use of city services, social service providers, community-based organizations, trauma/counseling services and faith-based resources, according to the outline for the program.
VIPS Program Page | Watsonville Police Department | Register Pajaronian
Flagler County, Florida, Sheriff's Office
Sheriff's volunteers add to list of growing police responsibilities
June 25, 2008
The Flagler County Sheriff's Office Citizens Observation Patrol has grown to 85 volunteers. And now nine of them are trained to write citations and handle minor traffic crash investigations. Volunteers in the Traffic Accident Investigation unit of the C.O.P. program completed a 100-hour certification class that trained them in traffic enforcement, courtroom testimony, evidence handling, crash investigation, report writing and ticket writing. Upon certification, they can write tickets for non-moving violations and can investigate and handle accidents that had no injuries. Volunteers range in age from 50 to 83 and work multiple four-hour shifts each week.
VIPS Program Page | Flagler County Sheriff's Office | Flagler News Journal
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