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Madison Volunteer Police
ABOUT VOLUNTEER POLICE
In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President George W.
Bush announced the creation of the USA
Freedom Corps, an effort
to
foster a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility,
building on the generous spirit of the American people. The
Citizen Corps programs are part of the USA Freedom Corps initiative and
share the common goal of helping communities prevent, prepare
for, and respond to crime, natural disasters, and other emergencies.
One of the Citizen Corps programs is the Volunteers in Police
Service (VIPS) Program. The International
Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP) is managing and implementing the VIPS Program in partnership
with and on behalf of the White House Office of the USA Freedom
Corps and the Bureau of
Justice Assistance, U.S. Department
of Justice. The program's goal is to enhance the capacity of state
and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers.
The foundation of this national initiative to help state and
local law enforcement agencies is http://www.policevolunteers.org/.
The
website serves as a gateway to information for law enforcement
agencies and citizens interested in law enforcement volunteer programs.
The VIPS Program offers the following resources:
- An online directory of existing law enforcement volunteer
programs that potential volunteers can search to connect with
a program
in their community.
- Volunteer Programs: Enhancing Public Safety
by Leveraging Resources - a resource guide to assist in the implementation
or enhancement
of an agency volunteer program.
- An online library of sample
documents and forms.
- A model policy.
- Regional training and networking opportunities.
- Technical assistance.
- VIPS Info, a monthly electronic newsletter
- VIPS in Focus publication
series.
- Educational videos.
- A discussion group for registered VIPS
Programs to share information and ideas.
To learn more about existing programs, see your local
police department.
RESOURCES
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