Volunteers in Police Service VIPS

1
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

• USA Freedom Corps
• United States Department of Justice
• International Association of Chiefs of Police

2
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

• The goal of VIPS is to enhance the capacity of
  state and local law enforcement to utilize
  volunteers.
• Volunteers are used to supplement and support the
  work of sworn officers and civilian staff.

3
Sample Volunteer Activities

• Search and Rescue
• Clerical/administrative
• Chaplain programs
• Parking/traffic enforcement
• Interpretation
• Police Explorer programs
• Citizen Advisory Board
• Training scenario participants

• Reserve/auxiliary officers
• Vacation checks
• Vehicle maintenance
• Victim services
• Special event crowd control
• Neighborhood Watch
• Marine Patrol
• Park Patrol

4
VIPS Organization

• Working in concert with the White House Office of
  the USA Freedom Corps, USDOJ, DHS, and HHS
• Managed and implemented by IACP
• Funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, USDOJ
  
• Training supported by COPS
• Advisory Committee

5
VIPS Activities to Date

• The Foundation
• Information Gathering
• Spreading the Word

6
The Foundation

• www.policevolunteers.org
• Searchable online database for law enforcement
  agencies and volunteers
• Online resource guide with downloadable sample
  documents
• VIPS Info e-mail list
• VIPS to VIPS moderated discussion group

7
www.policevolunteers.org

• Registered programs
• Launch 79 in 27 states and DC
• Today 695 in 50 states, DC, PR
• Volunteers represented
• More than 37,700
• Website hits
• 6 million

8
Information Gathering

• Building a knowledge base from existing programs
• Surveys
• Working to get a baseline
• Registered programs
• National snapshot
• Site Visits
• Twenty-six visits conducted in sixteen states

9
Spreading the Word

• Presentations conducted
• In eighteen states, DC, PR and USVI to various
  groups, including
• Citizen Corps partners
• Chiefs/Sheriffs associations
• Crime prevention associations
• Community-based organizations
• Authored several published articles
• Media clips
• Presidents trumpeting of VIPS volunteers

10
VIPS Activities in Process

• Collaboration and outreach
• Resource Development
• Volunteer Programs Enhancing Public Safety by
  Leveraging Resources
• Training curriculum
• IACP Award
• Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement
  Volunteer Programs

11
VIPS in the Future

• Continued Resource Development
• CD-ROM and videos
• Regional Symposia
• Introduce VIPS resources and products
• Technical Assistance
• Website
• Peer mentoring

12
Contact Information

• Website www.policevolunteers.org
• E-mail info_at_policevolunteers.org
• Phone 1-800-THE-IACP