Volunteer Programs

The Benicia Police Department encourages the participation of citizen volunteers within the organization through our Volunteers in Police Services Programs (VIPS). VIPS is a partnership between volunteers from the community and the Benicia Police Department.

Volunteers bring their experience and skills to enhance the services provided by local police. Specially trained volunteers work to make our community a safer place in which to live. Volunteer assistance allows our police officers more time to protect our citizens and deter crime. Citizens can participate in several volunteer programs:

  • Police Cadets: Youth 15-20 years old can participate as a uniformed police cadet. Cadets volunteer their time and assist the department in a number of tasks.
  • Senior Patrol Volunteers: Retired citizens participate in our field services which supports our patrol officers by providing extra patrol, traffic control, vacation checks, document transport, special events and other field duties.
  • Chaplains: Citizens from the faith community serve as Police Chaplains, Community Chaplains and High School Resource Chaplains. The Chaplaincy Program provides assistance to crime victims and their families, assist police officers on notifications and serve all aspects of the department

For further information about any of our Volunteers in Police Services Programs contact Volunteer Coordinator Patti Woodside at (707) 746-4268 or via e-mail at pwoodside@ci.benicia.ca.us.

The Benicia VIPS program is a registered program with National Volunteers in Police Service program.  Volunteers in Police Service 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.

Interested in volunteering? Click here for more information on Senior Patrol Volunteers, and here for Volunteer Chaplains.

 

Senior Patrol Volunteers
Volunteer Police Chaplains