Citizens Police Academy

Last night I attended the first of 12 classes for the Citizen's Police Academy at the Southaven Police Department.

Citizens Police Academy

The citizens police academy is a program to reach out to our community to familiarize citizens with the inner workings of the Southaven Police Department and emergency services through lectures and tours of facilities and divisions within our agency and others. This course provides citizens the ability to understand how to further contribute to their community and work with the Southaven Police Department more effectively in the prevention of crime.

Upon completion of this class: I receive a certificate of completion & I will be eligible to join the V.I.P. progam. Listed below is information about the V.I.P. program

About VIPS

Origin of the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program

President George W. Bush created USA Freedom Corps (USAFC) to build on the countless acts of service, sacrifice, and generosity that followed September 11. When he announced USAFC in his 2002 State of the Union address, he called on all Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves.

As a White House office, USAFC is charged with building a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America. USAFC promotes and expands volunteer service in America by partnering with national service programs, working to strengthen the nonprofit sector, recognizing volunteers, and helping to connect individuals with volunteer opportunities.

Citizen Corps, a vital component of USAFC, was created to help coordinate volunteer activities to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.

Citizen Corps partner programs build on the successful efforts in place in many communities around the country to prevent crime and respond to emergencies. Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) is one of five Citizen Corps partner programs. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) manages and implements 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, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.

VIPS Goals and Objectives

The VIPS Program provides support and resources for agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program and for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a community law enforcement agency. The program’s ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers.

Through this program, the VIPS staff seeks to

• learn about promising practices being used in existing VIPS programs and share this information with law enforcement agencies that want to expand their programs,
• increase the use of volunteers in existing programs,
• help citizens learn about and become involved in VIPS programs in their communities, and
• help agencies without volunteer programs get them started.

VIPS Resources

The foundation of VIPS is this Web site, which serves as a gateway to information for law enforcement agencies and citizens interested in law enforcement volunteer programs.

This Web site offers

• a directory summarizing volunteer opportunities available in law enforcement agencies across the country. The directory is a searchable resource for agencies that are looking to network and contact programs offering similar or desired volunteer roles. It also serves as a resource for citizens searching for volunteer opportunities.
• a library of sample documents and forms, including policies and procedures, training materials, and screening forms.
• Volunteer Programs: Enhancing Public Safety by Leveraging Resources, a resource guide for law enforcement agencies interested in starting a volunteer program.
• VIPS in Focus, a publications series that builds on this resource guide, addressing specific elements and issues related to law enforcement volunteer programs.
• a model policy developed in collaboration with IACP’s National Law Enforcement Policy Center.
• regional one-day regular training and advanced training providing attendees with the knowledge and skills necessary to implement a law enforcement volunteer program.
• a technical assistance program to help local agencies determine their volunteer needs and design programs that will effectively meet those needs.
• a mentor program that pairs new law enforcement volunteer coordinators in need of support with experienced coordinators.
• educational videos.
• VIPS Info, a monthly electronic newsletter that provides news and events about the VIPS Program and law enforcement volunteer activities across the country.
• VIPS in the News, a bimonthly electronic newsletter recognizing law enforcement volunteer programs that have recently been in the news.
• VIPS to VIPS, a moderated online discussion group for law enforcement volunteer program leaders to share information and ideas.

Volunteers in Policing Helping our community through volunteerism Contact Information: Southaven Police Department 8691 Northwest Dr. Southaven, MS 38671 662-342-3581 or 662-393-8652 jwheeler@southaven.org

WHAT IS VIP? VIP stands for Volunteering in Policing. It is a program that allows residents of our community to assist the Southaven Police Department. HOW DOES VIP DIFFER FROM OTHER VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS? VIP is different from other volunteer programs because volunteers work in and for the Southaven Police Department enhancing a wide variety of police activities. HOW CAN I JOIN? You must be 21 and complete the Southaven Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy. The Academy is a ten week course that starts the last Monday in Feburary of every year. Applications are available in the front office of the Southaven Police Department. ARE BACKGROUND / SECURITY CHECKS REQUIRED TO DO VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES? Yes. The Southaven Police Department will conduct an extensive background check. WHAT KIND OF VOLUNTEER SKILLS ARE NEEDED? Any and all skills are welcome. WHAT TRAINING DO I NEED? The officers of the Southaven Police Department will teach any and all classes needed for any type of volunteering. WHO WILL SUPERVISE ME? Southaven Police officers assigned to the Public Relations Division by Chief W. T. Long are assigned the task to see that the agenda of the VIPs is carried out. VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND EVENTS Assist with the Annual Southaven Easter Egg Hunt Assist with the Christmas Parade Visit Nursing Homes Work the Fox News Most Wanted Assist with various City Functions and other civic events during the year Bake monthly birthday cakes for Southaven Police officers and personnel. Help with emergency call-outs. Assist with the Halloween Haunted House. Assist with annual Veteran’s Day Luncheon. Assist with Officer Appreciation Day. Works various events at Snowden Grove Park Help answer phones and greet visitors to the Southaven Police Dept. Breakfast with Santa Many cook-outs and tours to various places. Work at Southaven’s Southern Lights at Central Park Fingerprinting at schools and other requested areas.