VIPS in Focus Series
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Moving Your Volunteer Program Forward with Social Media
Social media continues to expand and evolve and with it comes new ways to recruit volunteers, stay in touch, reward their efforts, and maximize their efficiency in the course of their duties. This issue of VIPS in Focus explores how your law enforcement volunteer program can tap in to the power of social media.
International Volunteers Share a Universal Commitment to Public Safety
The VIPS Program Directory boasts volunteer programs from around the world. The roles, responsibilities, and titles for volunteers vary from country to country, but they all share a similar commitment to keeping their communities safe. This issue of VIPS in Focus examines some of the similarities and unique features of international law enforcement volunteer programs.
2012 Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award
This issue of VIPS in Focus profiles the recipients of the 2012 IACP and Wilmington University Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award – the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Police Department; Fresno, California, Police Department; and Grapevine, Texas, Police Department.
Looking Beyond the Patrol Car: Alternative Ways to Bring Extra Eyes and Ears to the Community
Citizen patrol allows volunteers to help prevent crime, increase law enforcement visibility, provide additional services, and build relationships with community members. In light of tightening budgets and community relations opportunities, many law enforcement agencies are expanding citizen patrols beyond traditional car-based programs. This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights three agencies that are utilizing a variety of transportation modes and unique types of citizen patrol.
2011 IACP/Wilmington University Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award
This latest issue of VIPS in Focus 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.
Innovative Ideas: Engaging Volunteers in Unique Positions
Many law enforcement departments begin a volunteer program by determining the best way to use civilians to support the departments’ overall operations. As programs evolve, new ways to engage committed volunteers and recruit new volunteers emerge. This issue of VIPS in Focus, Innovative Ideas: Engaging Volunteers in Unique Positions, looks at the innovative volunteer activities of three departments, Aurora, Colorado, Police Department; Davenport, Iowa, Police Department; and Vineland, New Jersey, Police Department.
Internships: Experience for Tomorrow’s Law Enforcement Leaders, Support for Today’s
In today’s challenging economy, law enforcement agencies are facing increased responsibilities with fewer resources. Meanwhile, college students are challenged to stand out in a difficult job market. Law enforcement internships can be a mutually beneficial way for agencies to expand their services and for students to acquire valuable work experience. This issue of VIPS in Focus examines three departments and the ways they integrate interns into department operations.
Volunteers Expand Law Enforcement Response to Victims
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights law enforcement agencies that turn to volunteers to assist victims of domestic violence and other crimes on the scene, after the event, and through community outreach to stop the violence before it starts.
IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award: 2010 Winners
This latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the winners of the 2010 IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award - the Coral Springs, Florida, Police Department; Rocklin, California, Police Department; and Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff’s Office.
Volunteers Assisting Rural Law Enforcement Agencies
This issue of VIPS in Focus examines law enforcement agencies serving rural jurisdictions that are creative in how they utilize volunteers to expand their reach.
Inclusion: Volunteers with Disabilities Offer Unique Skills and Perspectives
By engaging volunteers with disabilities, law enforcement agencies not only benefit from their services, but also gain a better understanding of the needs and concerns of individuals with disabilities, helping them to better serve the community at large. This issue of VIPS in Focus provides information on disability law and accommodations and highlights three agencies that are engaging the unique skills and perspectives of volunteers with special needs.
Bridging the Gap: Engaging Volunteers in Multicultural Outreach
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights four departments that have engaged volunteers to bring their language skills, cultural knowledge, and enthusiasm for public safety to multicultural outreach efforts.
Volunteer Programs: Maintaining Services in a Tough Financial Climate
In these vulnerable economic times, agencies are looking for more creative ways to stretch the dollar; one such resource is volunteer programs. This latest issue of Vips in Focus highlights the efforts of the Hazelwood, Missouri, Police Department, the Woodway, Texas, Police Department, and the Gulf Breeze, Florida, Police Department which represent a small sample of programs that are doing more with less.
IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award: 2009 Winners
This latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the winners of the 2009 IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award - the Chesterfield County, Virginia, Police Department; Mesa, Arizona, Police Department; and San Antonio, Texas, Police Department.
VIPS In Focus: Volunteers of the Cloth and the Badge
Chaplains, whether paid or volunteer, provide support to officers and the department family in many law enforcement agencies. Chaplains serve in a nondenominational capacity regardless of their individual faith. Some agencies utilize chaplains to provide support and assistance to officers, while others extend the reach of the agency by chaplains assisting crime victims. Ultimately, law enforcement chaplaincy is a ministry of presence. The Pennsylvania State Police; Virginia Beach, Virginia, Police Department; and the York City, Pennsylvania Police Department all utilize chaplains, with each agency incorporating the chaplain program in a way that best fits their department.
An Emerging Sector in Law Enforcement Volunteering: Volunteers in Investigations
This issue of VIPS in Focus examines four agencies that use volunteers for investigative purposes. These well trained and skilled volunteers work in investigations and on cold case squads, while enhancing their department’s productivity in handling crimes against persons and property, and identity crimes.
RSVP: Tapping into Valuable Assets of your Community
This issue of VIPS in Focus looks at the RSVP programs within the law enforcement agencies of the Anaheim, California, Police Department; the Baltimore County, Maryland, Police Department; and the Brookings County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Office. This issue examines how these agencies have made RSVP volunteers an integral part of their law enforcement efforts.
Law Enforcement Exploring: the Future of Law Enforcement
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the Explorer Posts of the Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, Sheriff’s Office; the Brookings, South Dakota, Police Department; and the Long Beach, California, Police Department. Each of these programs help guide the youth of their community, recruit new officers, and provide volunteer services for law enforcement agency.
IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award: 2008 Winners
This latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the winners of the 2008 IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award - the Benecia, California, Police Department, the Delray Beach, Florida, Police Department, and the Richardson, Texas, Police Department.
Serving as Extra Eyes and Ears in City Parks
This issue of VIPS in Focus examines three police departments who use volunteers to patrol the parks and act as extra eyes and ears for the department, ensuring the safety of the community members who use the park.
The Use of Volunteers in a Public Health Emergency
This issue of VIPS in Focus will focus on preparing your community for, and responding to, a public health disaster, and it will highlight the integral role that volunteers can play in that preparation and response.
Citizen Police Academies: Introducing Law Enforcement to the Community
The latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights three agencies that offer a citizen police academy to familiarize community members with their law enforcement agency and build relationships between the agency and the community.
Volunteers and Police Officers Team up to Prevent Crime
The latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights three agencies that have actively engaged volunteers to perform crime prevention activities for the agency and their community.
Volunteers and Disaster Response: How Volunteers Can Fill Key Roles During and After a Disaster
The latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights agencies that have plans in place for when a disaster strikes. Their plans include providing volunteers with the training and resources necessary to respond to a disaster.
IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award: 2007 Winners
This latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the winners of the 2007 IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award - the Bellevue, Washington, Police Department, the Hazelwood, Missouri, Police Department, and the Vacaville, California, Police Department.
Dealing with Loss: Handling the Death of a Volunteer
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights three agencies that have implemented plans and procedures to deal with the death of a volunteer.
IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award: 2006 Winners
This latest issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the winners of the 2006 IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award - the Denver, Colorado Police Department, the Eugene, Oregon, Police Department, and the Pasadena, California, Police Department.
Sex Offender Management: Involving Citizens to Strengthen Law Enforcement Efforts
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the activities that volunteers can perform to assist with the management of sex offenders.
Reducing the Pain: How Law Enforcement Utilizes Volunteers in Victim Services
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the activities that volunteers can perform to assist law enforcement's response to victims.
Building a Volunteer Program: Lessons from the Field
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the first year experiences and lessons learned from four law enforcement agencies that established a new volunteer program.
Volunteers as Volunteer Program Leaders: A Program Management Model
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the use of volunteers in leadership positions within law enforcement volunteer programs.
Mutually Beneficial Partnerships: Internship Programs
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the benefits of internship programs for law enforcement agencies.
National Service Programs: Law Enforcement and AmeriCorps Partnerships
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights three VIPS programs that utilize the AmeriCorps program to provide volunteer opportunities and support for their department and community.
IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award: 2005 Winners
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the 2005 winners of the IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award - the Lodi, California, Police Department, the San Diego, California, Police Department and the Casa Grande, Arizona, Police Department.
Law Enforcement and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT): How Agencies are Utilizing Volunteers to Address Community Preparedness Goals
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights how law enforcement agencies can involved community members in preparedness through the CERT Program.
Bridging the Size Gap: Volunteers as a Force Multiplier
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights the use of volunteers in smaller police departments.
Building Relationships: Using Volunteers to Address the Needs of Multicultural Communities
This issue of VIPS in Focus highlights examples of law enforcement agencies building partnerships within diverse communities.
IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award: 2004 Winners
This issue highlights the 2004 winners of the IACP/SAIC Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award - the Concord, California, Police Department and the Pima County, Arizona, Sheriff's Department.
Bridging the Digital Divide: Meeting Departmental Technical Needs by Recruiting Skilled Volunteers
This issue highlights departments that have enhanced their public safety services through the use of skilled volunteers.
College and University Police Departments: Engaging Volunteers in Higher Education Settings
This edition of VIPS in Focus addresses the relationship between college and university police departments and volunteers.
Advancing Crime Prevention Efforts: Aligning Neighborhood Watch and Volunteers in Police Service
This inaugural issue addresses a central focus for many law enforcement volunteer activities - advancing community crime prevention efforts by building on Neighborhood Watch activities.