Volunteers in Police Service Curriculum Presented By TEXAS REGIONAL COMMUNITY POLICING INSTITUTE.
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Transcript of 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
Introduction to Volunteers in Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service Police Service
• 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
Introduction to Volunteers in Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service Police Service
• Resource Commitment• Varies as to volunteer
• Financial demands on volunteer by law enforcement
• Capacity• Major partnerships – The Big Six
• Individual community members
Introduction to Volunteers in Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service Police Service
• 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.
Recruiting and Marketing Recruiting and Marketing
Examples of Agencies Exclusions or Requirements
• No felony convictions, sexual offense, or theft or drug conviction
• Under indictment or in process for same
Recruiting and Marketing Recruiting and Marketing
Citizens Guide to Volunteering
• Handbook development• Publish volunteer opportunities• Make the program meaningful
Recruiting and Marketing Recruiting and Marketing
Develop Organizational Marketing Materials• Website• Brochure• Flyers / handouts / fact sheets• Store window posters• Ads in local papers• Cable channel access
Recruiting and Marketing Recruiting and Marketing
Media Assistance• Public Service Announcements• News release
Pre-recruitment Strategy• Secure top management buy-in• Develop organization marketing
materials
Recruiting and Marketing Recruiting and Marketing
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
Measuring Outcomes-AgencyMeasuring Outcomes-Agency
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.
Measuring Outcomes-AgencyMeasuring Outcomes-Agency
…Relative to your programs•Every program should have a mission of its own.
•Utilize programs within a larger problem solving mode.
Measuring Outcomes-AgencyMeasuring Outcomes-Agency
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
Background and ScreeningBackground and Screening
Dangers• Policing is an inherently
dangerous profession• Legal aspect of volunteers –
consult legal counsel
Background and ScreeningBackground and Screening
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
CommunicationsCommunications
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
CommunicationsCommunications
Recognition of Volunteers• End of year awards• Inclusion in departmental meeting• Letters of commendation from the
Chief
CommunicationsCommunications
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
Program DevelopmentProgram Development
• Define Volunteer•What is a volunteer?•Who will volunteer?
• Examples of Volunteer Successes•Garland, Texas•San Diego, California•Alexandria, Virginia
Program DevelopmentProgram Development
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
Program DevelopmentProgram Development
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.
Sustainability and Funding Sustainability and Funding
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
Sustainability and Funding Sustainability and Funding
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]