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Volunteers in Police Service Curriculum

Volunteers in Police Service Curriculum. Presented By TEXAS REGIONAL COMMUNITY POLICING INSTITUTE. How Did VIPS Come to Be?. Training Overview. Instructor Introduction Student Introduction. Goals of Presentation.

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Volunteers in Police Service Curriculum

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  1. Volunteers in Police Service Curriculum Presented By TEXAS REGIONAL COMMUNITY POLICING INSTITUTE

  2. How Did VIPS Come to Be?

  3. Training Overview • Instructor Introduction • Student Introduction

  4. Goals 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.

  5. Participant 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

  6. Participant Performance Objectives • 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

  7. Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service • Foundations 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

  8. Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service • Determining 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

  9. Introduction to Volunteers in 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

  10. Introduction to Volunteers in 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

  11. Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service • Resource Commitment • Varies as to volunteer • Financial demands on volunteer by law enforcement • Capacity • Major partnerships – The Big Six • Individual community members

  12. Introduction to Volunteers in Police Service • Ask for Cooperation • Stakeholders • Interested groups • Organizations

  13. Needs Assessment Support • Determining How Volunteers Can Be Used • Legal Issues • Safety Issues • Expertise Issues

  14. 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)

  15. Recruiting 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

  16. 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.

  17. 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

  18. Recruiting and Marketing • Citizens Guide to Volunteering • Handbook development • Publish volunteer opportunities • Make the program meaningful

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

  20. Recruiting and Marketing • Media Assistance • Public Service Announcements • News release • Pre-recruitment Strategy • Secure top management buy-in • Develop organization marketing materials

  21. 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

  22. Management and Administrative Issues • Overview of VIPS • What is a volunteer in VIPS • VIPS and community policing • Volunteers in a police culture • Volunteer restrictions

  23. Management and Administrative Issues • 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

  24. Management and Administrative Issues • 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

  25. Management and Administrative Issues • Program Evaluation • Accomplishing volunteer objectives and goals • Measuring outcomes

  26. Measuring 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

  27. Measuring Outcomes-Agency • FTE’s 1. 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

  28. Measuring 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.

  29. Measuring Outcomes-Agency • …Relative to your programs • Every program should have a mission of its own. • Utilize programs within a larger problem solving mode.

  30. Measuring 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.

  31. Background and Screening • Background and screening • Record Criteria • No felony record, etc. • Agencies screen their own volunteers • Agencies have control over volunteers

  32. Background and Screening • Dangers • Policing is an inherently dangerous profession • Legal aspect of volunteers – consult legal counsel

  33. Background and Screening • Compromise Procedures • Can’t pass screenings • No compatible slots open • Contingency plan

  34. Communications • 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

  35. Communications • 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

  36. Communications • 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.

  37. Communications • 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

  38. Communications • 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

  39. Communications • 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

  40. Communications • 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

  41. Communications • Recognition of Volunteers • End of year awards • Inclusion in departmental meeting • Letters of commendation from the Chief

  42. Communications • 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

  43. Program 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

  44. Program Development • Define Volunteer • What is a volunteer? • Who will volunteer? • Examples of Volunteer Successes • Garland, Texas • San Diego, California • Alexandria, Virginia

  45. Program 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

  46. Program Development • Regional Community Policing Institutes (RCPI) • What is a regional Community Policing Institute? • How an RCPI can help you and your volunteers

  47. Sustainability and Funding • Overview • Build community investment and collaboration • Provide alternative opportunities for volunteers • Value of volunteers in police service • Individuals • Law enforcement agency • Community

  48. 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.

  49. 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

  50. Sustainability and Funding • Obtaining Funding • Government Agencies • Other funding; business groups, community groups, etc.

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