January 2012
Help Us Register 200 New Programs As We Celebrate Out 10th Year
During President George W. Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address he laid the groundwork for the National Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program. With financial support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, and management from the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the VIPS Program will celebrate its 10th year of providing support and resources to state, local, tribal, and campus law enforcement agencies to assist in their use of volunteers.
We have established goals that you as a volunteer, a volunteer manager, or a law enforcement officer can assist with as we celebrate our 10 years of service to law enforcement. We want to register a minimum of 200 new law enforcement volunteer programs this year. Do you know of volunteer programs in neighboring communities that are not registered with us? Request a copy of the resource guide, Volunteer Programs: Enhancing Public Safety by Leveraging Resources, CD-Rom, or Educational DVD to share with them. Encourage them to register by explaining how your department has benefitted from the VIPS tools and resources provided to you; or simply let us know and we will reach out to them.
We have a lot of exciting plans for this 10th Anniversary year. Keep your eyes on our website and this newsletter for more information throughout the year.
New Podcast Released
We are pleased to announce that the Volunteers in Police Service program will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2012! Listen to this month’s podcast, Celebrating 10 Years of VIPS, for information on how you can help us recognize this milestone year.
Click here to listen to all the VIPS Podcasts.
2011 IACP/Wilmington University Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award
This latest issue of VIPS in Focus, 2011 IACP/Wilmington University Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award, highlights the winners of the 2011 IACP/Wilmington University Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award – the Hamilton, Ontario, Police Service and Las Vegas, Nevada, Metropolitan Police Department. Congratulations to the winners, we appreciate all you do for law enforcement volunteering!
Question of the Month Results
Each month, a new Question of the Month is posted the VIPS website. The Decemeber Question of the Month " Have shrinking department budgets impacted the volunteer program(s)? " received 103 responses:
- 25 percent of individuals replied new volunteer activities are available.
- 22 percent of individuals replied department budget has other impacts on volunteers.
- 11 percent of individuals replied there has been an increase in volunteers.
- 11 percent of individuals replied department budget does not impact volunteer program(s).
- 10 percent of individuals replied volunteers are leaving for paid employment.
- 10 percent of individuals replied changes have been made to the volunteer policies.
- Eight percent of individuals replied I don't know.
- Four percent of individuals replied increased fundraising.
Visit the website to answer the January Question of the Month, "What is the biggest issue facing your program in 2012?"
Newly Registered Programs
The following programs registered with the VIPS Program in December:
- Benton Harbor, Michigan, Department of Public Safety
- Branch County, Michigan, Sheriff's Office
- Branch County, Michigan, Sheriff's Office Chaplain Corps
- City of Auburn Hills, Michigan, Police Department
- Franklin County, Ohio, Sheriff Office
- Sharon Township, Ohio, Police Department
- Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake, Utah
- Watertown, Wisconsin, Police Department
- Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff's Office
To become part of the VIPS initiative and be included in the VIPS online directory, you must be a state, local, tribal, or campus law enforcement agency offering volunteer opportunities or an organization working in partnership with a law enforcement agency (such as a Retired Senior Volunteer Program placing volunteers within a law enforcement agency). Your individual program does not have to be called or renamed VIPS. You can register your program here.