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They are not sworn officers, nor do they make arrests or carry weapons. Yet, the Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) program is a visible and valuable asset to the Fallon Police Department that is now in need of a few more citizens to help keep it running at full speed.
Fallon's program was organized in 2003 by Captain Frank Shyne, operation division commander, who said help is needed because the roster has been depleted for various reasons.
“We're looking for good citizens in the community who want to volunteer,” he said. “The key is to have a number of rock solid individuals you can trust.”
Shyne, who started as a reserve with the Fallon Police Department 30 years ago, noted that the Volunteers in Police Service program extends nationwide incorporating volunteers to enhance public safety in communities. The national VIPS program is entering its 10th year.
“It really helps us out if you can augment what you already have as a police force, and we only have three or four guys on duty maximum, and you can bring in 10 other people to help you do non-police things,” Shyne said.
Members of the volunteer team handle such minor law-enforcement responsibilities as patrol of private property parking spaces, traffic control, assisting at special events, communications, as well as work at the animal control shelter.
“They may help with the graduation events where we need somebody to take an intersection or just walk around in the crowd and be a presence in a community feel-good sort of event,” Chief Kevin Gehman said. “Once they get involved then they are usually willing to just jump into anything.”
The program is open to any citizen, though Gehman pointed out most volunteers in the past have been retirees.
Bob Behnke, a retired carpenter who had previous Search and Rescue experience when he lived in Mono County, is one of the two original members, and even at age 81, he looks forward to making his rounds on parking patrol duty. Behke works one day during an average week.
“They call me the parking lot cop,” he said, laughing. “I mostly check on handicap parking; I usually just write warnings and stuff like that.”
Behnke went on to add he be lieves the program has been successful overall.
“It's surprising, when we first started, how many people violated the handicap parking, and it's slowed way down now,” he said. “People got the idea they shouldn't park here if they don't have their handicap placards.”
Volunteers drive a modified police car that is distinct by its yellow light lenses, as opposed to standard police red and blue. The Ford's siren is also disabled.
“These guys write warnings and if someone gets a couple of warnings, then they call an officer who writes the ticket,” Shyne said. “They can write a ticket, but usually we have an officer do it.”
Volunteers help out in many other ways.
For example, Shyne pointed out instances of missing persons cases or crimes when the volunteers have been activated to distribute fli ers door-to-door or business-to-business around the city.
“That's one of the best things they've helped us with, fliers, to tell people what has happened and to please call us,” Shyne said. “Another good example, they carry radios; we've taught them how to communicate in our radio system and they're great at a big event. You get lost kids and they're Johnny-on-the-spot.”
Applicants must meet background check requirements and have finger prints taken then sent to the FBI, according to Shyne.
“They just need to have a clean record and we prefer they have a driver's license,” Shyne said.
“We do a little background on them. It definitely doesn't meet the same standard of background that we have to go through for an officer who is carrying a pistol and can take someone's liberty away. We check their background and some of their past em ployment or current employment just to make sure what they're putting down on paper is who they actually are.
“But other than that, we've never run into a problem where we've had to deny somebody,” he added.
Once accepted, volunteers then head to a classroom for some basic training that depends on the type of work they are doing.
Shyne noted that a volunteer at the animal shelter or a volunteer who will write parking violation warnings will be trained accordingly.
“We sit down and explain what the laws are and what our policies and procedures are,” Shyne said. “We tell them how we expect them to behave when they're around the public, how to identify a problem and record it properly for us.”
Applications are available at the police department's dispatch counter. For information, call Shyne at 423-2111 or send an email to fshyne@ci.fallon.nv.us.
Volunteers in Police Services website: www.policevolunteers.org.
Fallon's program was organized in 2003 by Captain Frank Shyne, operation division commander, who said help is needed because the roster has been depleted for various reasons.
“We're looking for good citizens in the community who want to volunteer,” he said. “The key is to have a number of rock solid individuals you can trust.”
Shyne, who started as a reserve with the Fallon Police Department 30 years ago, noted that the Volunteers in Police Service program extends nationwide incorporating volunteers to enhance public safety in communities. The national VIPS program is entering its 10th year.
“It really helps us out if you can augment what you already have as a police force, and we only have three or four guys on duty maximum, and you can bring in 10 other people to help you do non-police things,” Shyne said.
Members of the volunteer team handle such minor law-enforcement responsibilities as patrol of private property parking spaces, traffic control, assisting at special events, communications, as well as work at the animal control shelter.
“They may help with the graduation events where we need somebody to take an intersection or just walk around in the crowd and be a presence in a community feel-good sort of event,” Chief Kevin Gehman said. “Once they get involved then they are usually willing to just jump into anything.”
The program is open to any citizen, though Gehman pointed out most volunteers in the past have been retirees.
Bob Behnke, a retired carpenter who had previous Search and Rescue experience when he lived in Mono County, is one of the two original members, and even at age 81, he looks forward to making his rounds on parking patrol duty. Behke works one day during an average week.
“They call me the parking lot cop,” he said, laughing. “I mostly check on handicap parking; I usually just write warnings and stuff like that.”
Behnke went on to add he be lieves the program has been successful overall.
“It's surprising, when we first started, how many people violated the handicap parking, and it's slowed way down now,” he said. “People got the idea they shouldn't park here if they don't have their handicap placards.”
Volunteers drive a modified police car that is distinct by its yellow light lenses, as opposed to standard police red and blue. The Ford's siren is also disabled.
“These guys write warnings and if someone gets a couple of warnings, then they call an officer who writes the ticket,” Shyne said. “They can write a ticket, but usually we have an officer do it.”
Volunteers help out in many other ways.
For example, Shyne pointed out instances of missing persons cases or crimes when the volunteers have been activated to distribute fli ers door-to-door or business-to-business around the city.
“That's one of the best things they've helped us with, fliers, to tell people what has happened and to please call us,” Shyne said. “Another good example, they carry radios; we've taught them how to communicate in our radio system and they're great at a big event. You get lost kids and they're Johnny-on-the-spot.”
Applicants must meet background check requirements and have finger prints taken then sent to the FBI, according to Shyne.
“They just need to have a clean record and we prefer they have a driver's license,” Shyne said.
“We do a little background on them. It definitely doesn't meet the same standard of background that we have to go through for an officer who is carrying a pistol and can take someone's liberty away. We check their background and some of their past em ployment or current employment just to make sure what they're putting down on paper is who they actually are.
“But other than that, we've never run into a problem where we've had to deny somebody,” he added.
Once accepted, volunteers then head to a classroom for some basic training that depends on the type of work they are doing.
Shyne noted that a volunteer at the animal shelter or a volunteer who will write parking violation warnings will be trained accordingly.
“We sit down and explain what the laws are and what our policies and procedures are,” Shyne said. “We tell them how we expect them to behave when they're around the public, how to identify a problem and record it properly for us.”
Applications are available at the police department's dispatch counter. For information, call Shyne at 423-2111 or send an email to fshyne@ci.fallon.nv.us.
Volunteers in Police Services website: www.policevolunteers.org.
