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Police volunteer (VIP) program reports rising hours; commission forms recognition subcommittee
Summary
The department reported increased VIP volunteer hours and described duties volunteers perform. Commissioners created a subcommittee to develop recognition criteria and awards for volunteers; two commissioners were appointed to the panel.
Lieutenant Carl of the Redondo Beach Police Department presented a summary of the department's Community Policing Volunteers (VIP) program to the Public Safety Commission on March 17, describing the program's history, duties and recent activity.
Lieutenant Carl said the VIP program began in 1994 and supports police work through traffic control at events, vacation checks, missing-persons searches, court runs, citation writing for parking and handicap-space violations, graffiti reports, and administrative and crime-analysis support. He reported 3,796 volunteer hours in 2024 and 3,617 hours in 2023; VIPs also contributed several thousand hours of administrative support and crime-analyst assistance in 2024. He explained volunteers are given radios, marked volunteer vehicles and training; they are instructed to avoid confronting dangerous situations and to observe and report to sworn personnel.
Commissioners asked about recruitment, age requirements (minimum 18), background checks and local outreach; the lieutenant said the department retains a Citizens Police Academy, a teens-and-policing summer program and that applicants must pass a full background check. Commissioners also asked about recognition for volunteers; Commissioner Trisha Skiba proposed forming a subcommittee to design recognition criteria and awards. The commission formed the subcommittee with Commissioners F. Contreras (Escantrius) and Wodnicki appointed; the subcommittee will draft criteria, consider funding sources and report back with a proposed sunset date for the subcommittee. Commissioners also said several volunteers will be eligible for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award based on 2024 hours and asked staff to coordinate formal recognition at a council meeting.
The department said the VIPs continue to support public events, DUI checkpoints and community outreach programs, and that volunteers filled a variety of roles including crosswalk support, skimmer checks at gas stations, and backfilling crossing-guard positions when needed.
