CLEARLAKE — The Clearlake Police Department Volunteers in Policing (VIP) seeks volunteers to supplement tasks that would otherwise take police officers and dispatchers away from doing their primary job.
VIP volunteers provide extra eyes and ears in the community, expanding police presence. VIPs do office work, assist in the property room, deliver subpoenas, issue handicapped parking citations, staff booths, direct traffic at community events and provide extra patrol in both the business and residential sections of the city at all hours of the day and night, according to Nicki Burrell of the Clearlake Police Department.
The volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, but their common goal is to represent the Clearlake community and help improve the quality of life for everyone here, Burrell stated. Some of them are former peace officers and bring their law enforcement experience into the program, others are private citizens who want to learn and participate in something new, she added.
Future plans for volunteers involve activities such as neighborhood watch, property identification and other crime prevention programs.
To become a VIP or for information, call Burrell at 994-8251 ext. 308 or go to the police department located at 14050 Olympic Drive in Clearlake.
