LAKEPORT — The Lakeport Police Department (LPD) honored its eight volunteers with tri-tip, wine marinated chicken and other fixings at a Tuesday barbecue.
Lt. Brad Rasmussen reported that the volunteers worked more than 1,260 hours in 2007. Calculated at the hourly rate of a part-time department employee, the hours equate to $15,172 of free services for the department, according to Rasmussen. Police Chief Kevin Burke said it costs the department less than $1,000 to run the volunteer program
“People are our best resource. In one year, they have really established themselves as a huge part of our day-to-day operations, and without them, there are just certain things that would not get done,” Burke said.
The LPD authorized six volunteer positions and two volunteer chaplain positions in January 2007. In an April 23 press release, Rasmussen said the volunteers were on track to work more hours in 2008 than in 2007.
Paid officers teach volunteers how to perform specific assignments while on the job, according to Rasmussen. A volunteer”s duties might include investigative support, patrolling large public events, traffic control, having abandoned vehicles towed, parking enforcement, bicycle safety training and administrative duties such as filing reports and entering data into the department”s computer system.
“They think we can do everything. So when they ask us to do something, we just do it ? we don”t want to let them down,” volunteer Pat McFarland said.
McFarland said she tracks and files reports in the unsolved Barbara LaForge murder case, among other duties.
“This is a good group of people. We all have our expertise, and the good thing about us is that we can do everything together as a group,” McFarland said.
Volunteer Theresa Harter said she spends about two hours a day directing traffic and filing paperwork at the Lakeport school campus on Lange Street. The campus includes Lakeport Elementary School, Terrace Heights School, Terrace Middle School and Clear Lake High School.
“That”s two hours officers don”t have to be standing around directing traffic,” Hartley said, while answering a fellow volunteer”s joking inquiry about parents trying to run her down.
Burke said the LPD is looking to recruit more volunteers.
“We want to maintain and continue to grow our volunteer program because of the tremendous amount of resources they provide to us at a very minimal cost. Essentially, the only cost is for uniforms and equipment,” Rasmussen said.
Anyone interested in volunteering for the LPD may contact Officer Mark Hommer, the department”s volunteer coordinator, at 263-5491.
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