SUPPORT FOR THE VOLUNTEERS IN POLICE SERVICE PROGRAM

Submitted by: Police Administration Committee

PAC.020.a08

WHEREAS, In 2002, the President of the United States, created the USA Freedom Corps to foster volunteerism, to create a culture of service, and to establish partnerships with national service organizations; and

WHEREAS, the Citizen Corps was created as a component of the USA Freedom Corps to assist in the coordination of volunteer services within communities throughout the U.S.; and

WHEREAS, the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program was created as one of five Citizen Corps partner programs; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) manages and implements the Volunteers in Police Service 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;and

WHEREAS, the Volunteers in Police Service Program has registered over 1,700 law enforcement volunteer programs since the program inception; and

WHEREAS, collectively these volunteers contribute several million hours, in a wide variety of ways to significantly contribute to law enforcement efforts worldwide; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police provides training programs and technical service support for law enforcement agencies to further the development, sustainment, and recognition of volunteer programs; and

WHEREAS, these volunteer programs support the law enforcement community, enhancing services provided by law enforcement officers and agencies in the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, the Volunteers in Police Service Programs ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to engage volunteers in lasting partnerships that improve public safety and quality of life in the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police annually recognizes the selected law enforcement agencies for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes the importance of the efforts of the law enforcement community in developing new volunteer programs, and encourages the growth and sustainment of current programs; and, now therefore be it

RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police duly assembled at its 115th Annual Conference in San Diego, California calls upon all its members to consider the many ways volunteers can help support law enforcement efforts, in areas such as administrative support, victim assistance, crime prevention, enforcement endeavors, public awareness, and emergency response, through organized, nationally registered Volunteers in Police Service programs in their organizations; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police calls for the continued federal funding of the efforts to foster growth in the number of police volunteers, volunteer program activities, and law enforcement volunteer programs through the USA Freedom Corps, Citizen Corps and its partner programs, such as the Volunteers in Police Service Program.