The Vancouver Police Department is actively recruiting citizen volunteers for its very successful Neighbors On Watch (NOW) program in 2017. Applicants should apply by January 19 to be considered for the Spring Training Academy.
Positive relationships between the police, the community and individual citizens are extremely important and are vital to the success of Community Oriented Policing. Consequently, citizen volunteer programs are an integral part of the community policing efforts of the Vancouver Police Department. An especially important aspect of such efforts is the positive impact individual citizens can have on our community’s crime problems and quality of life issues.
NOW volunteers receive specialized training to conduct citizen patrols in the City of Vancouver, observe and report suspicious activity, and support the department’s important public safety mission. In 2016, NOW volunteers assisted with evidence searches, patrolled hundreds of hours, helped canvass for missing people, documented speeding and stop sign violations, and located stolen vehicles. The crime prevention patrols are highly visible and non-confrontational — volunteers serve as “extra eyes and ears” only. Many team members walk and ride bikes for exercise while patrolling, or drive their personal vehicles.
Applicants must be at least 21-years old, pass a thorough background investigation, successfully complete 40 hours of training over eight weeks, and commit to four hours of volunteer service per month. Training includes radio communications, observation skills, CPR, searching for evidence, and citizen patrol procedures.
To apply or find out more information visit City of Vancouver, Neighbors on Watch or contact Volunteer Service Coordinator Kelly Cheney at [email protected] or 360-487-7467.
