Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Police Department seeks recruits for VIP program

By Shari Kaplan

The Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police Department again seeks a few--or more--good men and women to serve as Volunteers in Policing. The VIP program, begun in January 1995 by Community Service Officer Gwen Gross, enables the police department to save money while providing more and faster services to the community. It also gives interested individuals a chance to perform community service--some because they plan a future career in law enforcement, others simply because they have some free time.

New volunteers for the 1998 year must attend a 20-hour VIP academy, which takes place in March. The academy includes instruction on topics including police department organization, policies, crime prevention, records and dispatch. CPR certification is also part of the program.

Following academy graduation, volunteers participate in a two-hour ride-along with a police officer on patrol and a two-hour sit-in with police dispatchers. By April, the new VIPs will have their uniforms and will be matched with appropriate assignments within the department, based on their talents and interests.

Among the duties VIPs may perform are vacation house checks, graffiti patrol, transport of police vehicles, computer data entry, warrant follow-up, front counter work, telephone answering, fingerprinting, home security inspections, records assistance and crime prevention programs.

People of all ages--from teenagers to senior citizens--are welcome to apply to the VIP program. Deadline for applications is Feb. 6. For more information, call Gwen Cross at 354-6842.

[ Back to Contents Page | Los Gatos Weekly-Times Home Page | Archives ]