volunteers in police service curriculum presented by texas regional community policing institute

Volunteers in Police Service Volunteers in Police Service CurriculumCurriculum

Presented By

TEXAS REGIONAL COMMUNITY POLICING INSTITUTE

How Did VIPS Come to Be?How Did VIPS Come to Be?

USA Freedom Corps

Corporation for National and Community Service

Peace Corps

Citizen Corps

Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

Community Emergency Response Team

(CERT)

Neighborhood Watch Program

Medical Reserve Corps

USA Freedom Corps

Corporation for National and Community Service

Peace Corps

Citizen Corps

Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

Community Emergency Response Team

(CERT)

Neighborhood Watch Program

Medical Reserve Corps

Training OverviewTraining Overview

Instructor Introduction

Student Introduction

Goals of PresentationGoals of Presentation

To familiarize participants with the VIPS program and to encourage registration by law enforcement agencies with Volunteers in Police Service

To generate ideas on how to sustain meaningful and successful initiatives that pay dividends to law enforcement agencies and the community.

Participant Performance ObjectivesParticipant Performance Objectives

Recognize overall goals of VIPS Develop needs assessment tools

internally and externally to guide VIPS implementation

List effective marketing and recruitment techniques

Recognize and respond to management and administrative issues that can make or break a VIPS program

Participant Performance Participant Performance ObjectivesObjectives

Discuss background and screening methods for volunteers

List effective ways to communicate the program

Discuss issues of overall program development

Develop ideas on funding and sustainability

Intro. of materials and training methods

Introduction to Volunteers in Introduction to Volunteers in Police ServicePolice ServiceFoundations of the VIPS Program

•2002 Presidential Initiative•Department of Justice and IACP

Responsibilities

Concept•Volunteers from the Community•Expanding Law Enforcement’s role in

the community•Volunteers use limited time

Introduction to Volunteers in Introduction to Volunteers in Police ServicePolice ServiceDetermining the Types of

Activities Available to Volunteers•Law enforcement’s need for self

assessment•Match needs to the talents and abilities

of the volunteers

Support•All ages can be involved•Variety of increasingly demanding

duties

Introduction to Volunteers in Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service Police Service

Why the Need• Ease demands on law enforcement• Fewer officers to execute enforcement

requirements• More technical requirements for officers• Fill critical gaps in program support


• Worth in Social Value• A more informed citizenry

• Example to young people and others

• Added Value• Opportunity to learn about law enforcement

while working with law enforcement

• Learning about citizens concerns


• Resource Commitment• Varies as to volunteer

• Financial demands on volunteer by law enforcement

• Capacity• Major partnerships – The Big Six

• Individual community members


• Ask for Cooperation

• Stakeholders

• Interested groups

• Organizations

Needs Assessment Support

Determining How Volunteers Can Be Used• Legal Issues• Safety Issues• Expertise Issues

Needs Assessment Support

Filling Needs With Volunteers• Coordinating position• Pre-recruitment action required• Role of the International

Association of Chiefs of Police• Match volunteers to the

organization’s strategic plan• Possible volunteer positions

(adapt to local needs)

Recruiting and MarketingRecruiting and Marketing

Recruitment Strategy• Who is your target?• Develop a plan• Create an event• Hire volunteer recruiter• Volunteers are here to

supplement and complement existing agency personnel

Recruiting and Marketing Recruiting and Marketing

What Does a Citizen Need to Know Before Volunteering?• Position Description• Time Commitment• Defined program activities• Direct Supervisor• Web-site access for personal record of

service/journal• How long should volunteers serve?• Age criteria• Citizen Police Academy attendance prior to

service.


Examples of Agencies Exclusions or Requirements

• No felony convictions, sexual offense, or theft or drug conviction

• Under indictment or in process for same


Citizens Guide to Volunteering

• Handbook development• Publish volunteer opportunities• Make the program meaningful


Develop Organizational Marketing Materials• Website• Brochure• Flyers / handouts / fact sheets• Store window posters• Ads in local papers• Cable channel access


Media Assistance• Public Service Announcements• News release

Pre-recruitment Strategy• Secure top management buy-in• Develop organization marketing

materials


Citizens Police Academies• One of the best ways to introduce

a civilian to the law enforcement profession

• Could be a great “gatekeeper” for the whole volunteer system in police agencies

Management and Administrative Management and Administrative IssuesIssues

Overview of VIPS• What is a volunteer in VIPS• VIPS and community policing• Volunteers in a police culture• Volunteer restrictions

Management and Administrative Management and Administrative IssuesIssues

Agency Mission, Objectives and Goals• Define the agencies mission, objectives

and goals• Volunteer concept and political

consideration• Volunteer objectives and goals within

agency mission• Clear and specific department guidelines

for volunteers

Management and Administrative Management and Administrative IssuesIssues Volunteers in Police Service

Management and Organization• Develop a pre-recruitment strategy

according to the VIPS goal to help resource-constrained agencies

• Internal management responsibility• External management responsibilities• Who can manage the program• Training issues• Liability issues• Funding issues

Management and Administrative Management and Administrative IssuesIssuesProgram Evaluation

• Accomplishing volunteer objectives and goals

• Measuring outcomes

Measuring Outcomes-VIPSMeasuring Outcomes-VIPS

Number of agencies who have created/enhanced a program as a direct result of VIPS

Number of new volunteers working with law enforcement as a direct result of VIPS

Increased quality of information presented on the VIPS Website

Measuring Outcomes-AgencyMeasuring Outcomes-Agency

FTE’s1. Patrol officers spend 1 hour per shift doing vacation checks during a year and this function is now done by your volunteers. You have 50 patrol officers. This calculates:50 officers X 1 hour saved X 228(standard for shifts)=11,400 hours divided by 1,824 (standard for hours)=

6.25 FTE(full time equivalents)

VALUED CUSTOMER: COPS Re-deployment criteria for COPS grantees. FLSA standard is 2080 hours and 260 shifts

VALUED CUSTOMER: COPS Re-deployment criteria for COPS grantees. FLSA standard is 2080 hours and 260 shifts


Police man hours saved-simple calculation is volunteer hours that replace a current officer accomplished task times officers pay.

Increased volunteerism in your agency is measurable.

Better citizen/police attitudes; measurable through survey.

Better police/citizen attitudes; measurable through survey.


…Relative to your programs•Every program should have a mission of its own.

•Utilize programs within a larger problem solving mode.


Example-Cold case fingerprints on minor theft cases

• To reduce citizen complaints.• To improve customer service• To increase solvability factors• To reduce officer man hours in minor

case investigations.

Background and ScreeningBackground and Screening

Background and screeningRecord Criteria

•No felony record, etc.•Agencies screen their own

volunteers•Agencies have control over

volunteers


Dangers• Policing is an inherently

dangerous profession• Legal aspect of volunteers –

consult legal counsel


Compromise Procedures• Can’t pass screenings• No compatible slots open• Contingency plan

CommunicationsCommunications Department Buy-in

• Policy and procedure• Officer training on volunteer use and

recruitment• Officer reward and recognition for

•Successful recruiting efforts•Successful partnership activity with

volunteers• Supervisory example• Beat officers should be involved – working

with volunteers whenever possible

CommunicationsCommunications Clear Lines of Responsibility for

Agency and Volunteer• Policy and procedure manual• Volunteer handbook

Benefits of Volunteers to Agency• Measure savings• Improvement in police/community

relations• Improve police image• Reduction in citizen complaints• Help with levies, funding

CommunicationsCommunications

Benefits of Volunteers to officers• Frees officers time for patrol and problem

solving functions.• Could reduce radio calls, with telephone

crime reporting units, handling parking complaints, etc.

• Can improve morale of officers; allows them to come in contact with community members who support them. Allows officers to work with citizens in a proactive way.

CommunicationsCommunications Benefits of Volunteers to Command

Staff• Can have a positive effect on the “us vs.

them” element.• Public trust • Can reduce manpower demands • Good way to develop a solid core of

community support• Business can “adopt” an agency for

community service• Volunteers become “ambassadors” for the

department

CommunicationsCommunications Benefits of Volunteers to Community

• Improve law enforcement service• Citizens can be part of something that is

concerned with the common good, something bigger than themselves

• Increases community pride• Increases citizen responsibility to take part

in government• Volunteers become great role models • Improves understanding and co-operation

between the community and their law enforcement officers


Work with Labor Organizations• Need to secure union support• Educate the unions and their

leadership that volunteers do not replace, fill in for, or take on duties of sworn or civilian salaried employee

CommunicationsCommunications Community Buy-in

• Educate community members on the historical perspective of the duty of citizens to be a part of their government – citizens are not subjects

• Characteristics of good and responsible citizens and good and responsible are the same

• Police service is not something that you pay someone else to do

• Most recurrent problems of crime and disorder in neighborhoods have solutions beyond a traditional law enforcement response of patrol and arrest, seizure and punishment – seeding needs to occur and caring, law abiding community members have a great role to play


Recognition of Volunteers• End of year awards• Inclusion in departmental meeting• Letters of commendation from the

Chief


Web-site Criteria• Easy to navigate• Great opening page• Peer to peer sharing• What’s new section• Feedback mechanism• Encourage use of VIPS logo and

links• Search by type if volunteer position

Program DevelopmentProgram Development

Training for Volunteers– Should Cover:

•Police procedures governing purpose and utilization of volunteers

•Overall orientation to the police agency

•Job descriptions and responsibilities•Safety issues•Volunteer performance and outcome•Universal volunteer tips to consider


• Define Volunteer•What is a volunteer?•Who will volunteer?

• Examples of Volunteer Successes•Garland, Texas•San Diego, California•Alexandria, Virginia


Pre-Recruitment Strategy•Create a strategic plan for your

volunteer initiative so you can be goal oriented

•Develop a Mission Statement•Create a meaningful volunteer

opportunity•Get the law enforcement

organization ready


Regional Community Policing Institutes (RCPI)

•What is a regional Community Policing Institute?

•How an RCPI can help you and your volunteers

Sustainability and FundingSustainability and Funding

Overview•Build community investment and collaboration

•Provide alternative opportunities for volunteers

Value of volunteers in police service•Individuals•Law enforcement agency•Community

Sustainability and Funding Sustainability and Funding

Local cost for the program•Tend to be self-sufficient as they grow•Develop supervision within their ranks•Adds skills, depth, resources and support

– with little cost Ongoing Marketing of the VIPS Program

– Develop volunteer materials – don’t reinvent the wheel

– There are no set amount of hours to commit

– Make sure systems are in place to evaluate the program and help market the program.


Community Cooperation– Businesses that are interested in

supporting volunteer efforts by their employees

– Law enforcement / business partnerships are not to be overlooked

– Most college degrees require some form of volunteerism – partner with your institutes of higher education


Obtaining Funding

– Government Agencies– Other funding; business

groups, community groups, etc.

Review and SummaryReview and Summary

Train the Trainer Overview– Review goals

Introduction to VIPS– What is VIPS– VIPS relationship to community

policing and homeland security Needs Assessment Support

– Applying the VIPS program– Volunteers

Review and Summary Review and Summary

Recruiting and Marketing– Planning for success– Relationship with the citizens

Management and Administration– Role of the volunteer– Management responsibilities

Background and Screening– Volunteers requirements– Legal implications

Review and Summary Review and Summary

Communications– Department acceptance of VIPS– Community acceptance of VIPS

Program Development– Training– Volunteer activities

Funding and sustainability– Value of volunteers– Outreach for funding

THANK YOU THANK YOU

Terry LucasCaptain of OperationsAlvin, Texas Police [email protected]

volunteers in police service curriculum presented by texas regional community policing institute

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