Yuba City Police Department Volunteer in Policing trains members in a 12-week Citizens Academy to perform patrol duties and more. Photo courtesy of Yuba City

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - If you ever wanted to be a police officer, now is the time.

Yuba City’s Volunteer in Policing Program (VIP) wants you to become one of their own. The Volunteer Policing Program (VIP) began in 1997 with 14 members to attract citizens into the organization through increased service. 

“When beginning our VIP Program, our agency utilized the volunteer hours from the program to provide relief to various members of our agency and allow work to be completed more efficiently, timely and consistently,” Police Chief Brian Baker said. 

Yuba City Police Department Volunteer in Policing Program trains citizens on various duties, including attending community events to passing out parking tickets. Photo courtesy of Yuba City

Throughout the years, the Yuba City Police Department recognized a need for additional police-related services that would benefit the vulnerable members of the community, thus creating two programs: At-Risk Citizen (ARC) and Volunteer Outreach for Independent Citizens and Elderly (VOICE).  

“ARC is designed for families who have a family member, of any age, who suffers from a disability or illness that would make them considered ‘at-risk’ if they were to go missing,” Baker said. “VOICE is designed for adults with disabilities or those who are elderly and live alone with no regular contact with family or friends.”

According to the chief, members regularly contact At-Risk Citizen and Volunteer Outreach for Independent Citizens and Elderly individuals up to three times a week.

Volunteer in Policing members attend community events as seen here to secure events and educate the public. Photo courtesy of Yuba City

“It allows citizens to feel confident in our police department staff and become more educated in policing,” Baker said. “By having volunteers engage as an integral part of our organization, we can increase our level of service by reducing the workload of many department divisions and provide our community with additional police-related services that would otherwise not be feasible.”

Since its founding, membership has nearly doubled in the program, which has various duties ranging from patrol duties to department mail and court runs. When not on traffic control or handing out parking and handicapped tickets, Volunteer in Policing Program members assist in the property evidence room or conduct business or residential security checks.

Carol Boyer has been a Volunteer in Policing Program member for more than two decades and has 6743.5 hours of experience.

“There is no end to learning, teaching and working with so many people in various duties and jobs,” Boyer said. “I have been fortunate to have worked within the department offices, outside events, other agencies, businesses and personnel throughout the city and county.”

Boyer is the best example, according to Baker, who said she and other Volunteer in Policing Program members are “important for our agency because it allows for additional relationships to be made within our community, allows us to continue our transparency and provide an upstanding level of service to Yuba City.”

Volunteer in Policing Program members must be at least 21 years old, pass a background check, attend a 12-week Citizen Police Academy and commit to a minimum of 16 hours of service per month. According to Boyer, it is all worth it. 

“It makes me more aware of many things, such as the history of our city and surrounding communities, the diversity of nationalities, faiths, languages, traditions and how it can all work together if we help it,” Boyer said. “Knowledge is never-ending and I want to be a part of it every day.”

Boyer said all Volunteer in Policing Program members “can grow at their own pace while working with good people.”

That is precisely the point, according to Baker, who said the program is open to members of all ages since many have different physical abilities, life experiences, training or passions that interest them. 

“With this in mind, we allow our volunteers to serve in many ways and can accommodate most individuals with a duty they feel passionate about,” Baker said. “Our volunteers can assist with our Records Unit, patrol officers, Traffic Unit, Community Outreach and more.”

Baker said his department greatly values the Volunteer in Policing Program. 

“Every year, our volunteers dedicate thousands of hours keeping our department efficient and providing Yuba City with excellent service,” Baker said. “We appreciate every single one of them and cannot thank them enough.”

 To become a Volunteer in Policing Program member, call Drew Mitchell at 530-822-4725. 

“Find a few hours a month to help and you will be rewarded many times over,” Boyer said.