Adopted at the 122nd Annual Conference
Chicago, Illinois
October 2015

Support for the Volunteers in Police Service Program

Submitted by: Police Administration Committee
PAC.007.t15

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 in 2002 as one of five Citizen Corps partner programs; and

WHEREAS, the "International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) coordinates 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 more than 2,200 law enforcement volunteer programs since the program's 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, 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 International Association of Chiefs of Police provides support for law enforcement agencies to further the development, sustainment, and recognition of volunteer programs; and

WHEREAS, the International Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes the importance and contribution of volunteer programs to police agencies; 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 financial support from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice and the IACP resource allocation for personnel support for the Volunteers in Police Service program has been discontinued; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police foster recognition and support of the efforts of the law enforcement community in developing new volunteer programs, and encourage the growth and sustainment of current programs; and, be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the International Association of Chiefs of Police will endeavor to continue to seek funding through grants to support the research, development, training, and continued growth of these volunteer programs.