PRESS RELEASE- 8/29/23- PARADISE POLICE VIPS OPEN RECRUITMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 29, 2023

The Paradise Police Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) are currently accepting applications for new members. The VIPS have served the Town of Paradise since August 1998 by assisting the Paradise Police Department to enhance community safety, security, and trust, while helping to protect life and property, and reduce crime. The VIPS collectively contribute thousands of hours of service to the Town every year.

The VIPS are organized into two separate units, the Communications Unit, and the Patrol Unit. Some members of the Patrol Unit are also members of the Traffic and Disaster Unit. The Communications Unit staffs the Police Department Front Lobby, assist community members with reporting crimes or obtaining copies of reports, providing Live Scans and other tasks around the Department. The Patrol Unit conducts regular patrols of the Town, perform Vacation House Checks, work with active Neighborhood Watch areas, and work as extra eyes and ears of the Police Officers. The Traffic and Disaster Unit assists the Police Department with 24/7/365 on-call traffic control for special events, traffic accidents, and other emergencies. The VIPS also assist neighborhoods with establishing Neighborhood Watch Groups, and for a small fee can provide reflectorized address marker signs for residences or businesses.

The VIPS are looking for volunteers who would like to join the VIPS and help in any of these areas. The VIPS do require a minimum commitment of 12 hours per month. New applicants will be required to pass a background and reference check, and will be required to participate in a short VIPS Academy followed by a field training program in the areas the new VIPS are interested in.

Those interested can get more information by contacting the VIPS at the Police Department Front Counter Monday - Friday 10 AM - 2 PM, or by emailing VIPS@TownofParadise.com. The VIPS Volunteer Application is available from a VIPS member at the Police Department Lobby at the above times. Simply complete the application and return it to the Police Department, and we'll be in touch! Applications will be accepted until September 15, 2023.

The Paradise Police Department would also like to invite the Media to set a time to meet with Department and VIPS representatives to learn more about the Paradise Police VIPS Program.

LOCATION: Paradise Police Department

SUSPECT(S):

INVESTIGATING OFFICER: Select

APPROVING SUPERVISOR: Select