Volunteers in Policing

The Hollister Police Department's volunteer program will be called Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.). The program will utilize civilian volunteers to assist with or assume defined tasks that were previously performed by paid department personnel. This significantly enhances the Department's ability to fulfill its mission and focus sworn personnel on tasks that volunteers cannot do. The volunteers may also undertake projects or perform duties that could not have otherwise been considered due to lack of manpower or required skills. The VIP Program has been expanded to include volunteers at the Animal Shelter.

In both the public and private sector, administrators are seeking ways to enhance the effectiveness of their organizations. Hollister's Volunteer in Policing program is designed so that the Police Department can achieve this goal while expanding our efforts to bring the community back into the fight against crime. A partnership must be forged between the community and police department so that a more proactive approach towards crime prevention can be implemented. The concept is simple; recruit volunteers from the community, train them in various non-hazardous law enforcement tasks, and allow them to function in direct support of the local police. Hollister's Volunteer in Policing program unites the Hollister Police Department and members of our community by:

• Forming a mutual partnership whereby volunteers supplement existing services, freeing paid staff to perform other necessary duties
• Placing Volunteers in projects which best utilize their existing skills, talents and interests while offering a rewarding challenge, and in some cases, new skills.
• Building better community relations by giving the public the opportunity to become familiar with the services provided by our department as well as a better understanding of the inner workings of the Hollister Police Department.

V.I.P. personnel may perform a multitude of functions for the HPD, such as:

HOLLISTER POLICE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Administrative - Front desk/answer phones, records data entry, filing records and reports, purging records, maintaining training records and conducting special reports or tasks for the administration.
MSO Support – Washing vehicles, entering maintenance data, radar maintenance, range maintenance, assist in property room, and support rallies and special events.
Graffiti Abatement – Identify areas for graffiti clean up, prepare for graffiti abatement days and supervise volunteers, and secure paint and supplies.
Patrol Support – Street controls for parades and races, event assistant, manning the HPD booth at the county fair, support gang forum meetings, and support DUI checkpoints.

ANIMAL CONTROL VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Administrative - answer phones, stuff envelopes; assist the public and the officers with office work.
Dog Walker - direct contact with dogs for socialization, training, and exercise.
NAN Program (nursing animal network) - provide temporary care and feeding for orphaned kittens. Done at the volunteer's home.
Laundry / Maintenance – wash, dry, fold blankets and towels.
Assist Staff – cleaning and maintenance of the shelter, and with feedings.

Application Process
Applicants for the V.I.P. program will first complete an application form and an authorization for background check form. These forms can be obtained from the department or downloaded below. The Personnel & Community Services Sergeant will review each application and upon approval, schedule a face-to-face interview.

Each selected citizen volunteer will undergo a records check and background check, including DOJ fingerprinting. The Personnel & Community Services Sergeant will inform the applicant by telephone of the results of the background check. If the applicant passes the background check he/she should be scheduled to be sworn in and attend orientation training and any special job related or safety training.

For information on becoming a Volunteer in Policing (V.I.P.) call the program coordinator Lt. Eric Olson at (831) 636 4330 or email him at eolson@police.hollister.ca.us.

You can also download a VIP application and turn it into Hollister Police Department.

Volunteers in Policing Application (PDF File 95KB)
Volunteers in Policing Background Authorization (PDF File 86KB)

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