Volunteers In Police Service

HERMOSA BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT

is pleased to open applications for the new community pilot program of VOLUNTEERS IN POLICE SERVICE.

Volunteers gain invaluable insights into our city's law enforcement system and how it works. Volunteers have the opportunity to improve the quality of their local law enforcement service through their work, their attitude, and ideas for improving programs. Our program increases community pride by allowing volunteers to serve as role models and most importantly, be part of a community program concerned with the common good and well being of the city we all love. So come and join the Hermosa Beach Police Department and the many others who donate their time in making our community a better place.

How To Get Involved

Interested in becoming a VIP? It's free, it's easy, and no experience is necessary. For more information, please send an email to Sgt. Jaime Ramirez. Or call the station at 310-318-0360. We'd love to talk to you.

Requirements

Volunteers participating in the VIP program will be required to complete an application and interview and successfully pass a background check. Additional requirements for the VIP Patrol program consist of possessing a valid driver's license, being 18 years of age, in good physical health, successfully meet the selection criteria of the program, and the desire to contribute a minimum of 10 hours per month.

Purpose

In both the public and private sector, administrators are constantly seeking ways to enhance the effectiveness of their organizations. In the law enforcement profession, one way to do this is to recruit more officers. This, however, is not always feasible because of fiscal limitations. In Hermosa Beach, the Police Department has developed a way to maximize its service without incurring a substantial financial burden. The concept is simple: recruit volunteers from the community, train them in various police-related duties, and then allow them to function in direct support of Police Department staff. Hermosa Beach has proven to be an ideal environment for such a program since its citizens pride themselves in community involvement. Volunteers function as an auxiliary unit of the Police Department, with no powers of arrest beyond those of any private citizen. They serve as extra eyes, ears and helping hands. They carry no weapons, but they do have cellular phone/radios, which allows for direct communication with our dispatchers and police officers. This enables them to report any suspicious activity quickly so that an officer can investigate what might have otherwise gone unnoticed or unreported. V.I.P. volunteers will assume many tasks, which have previously been performed by paid police personnel. This program significantly enhances the Department's ability to focus sworn personnel on tasks, which volunteers cannot do. The volunteers will also undertake projects, which could not have otherwise been considered due to lack of manpower or resources, such as:

Patrol Neighborhoods & Downtown on Foot or in the VIP vehicle

Patrol Neighborhoods & Downtown on Bicycle

Bicycle Watch and Awareness

Perform Park Patrol and Alley Checks

Perform View and Valley School Checks

Advocate Skateboard Awareness

Perform Parking Structure & Parking Lot Checks

Assist with DUI/Driver's License Checkpoints

Monitor Cab Zones

You will also have the power to identify and address specific concerns and problems within your community.