Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)

VIPS

The Volunteers in Police Service (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, local, campus, tribal, and territorial law enforcement to utilize volunteers. The VIPS staff shares information and resources 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 program.

VIPS Bike Patrol   VIPS

VIPS participants are not armed, but wear uniforms and can assist in a variety of duties depending on their level of training through the police department.  These duties may include station duties and record keeping, fingerprinting, neighborhood patrols (by bicycle or vehicle), funeral escorts, vehicle tows, traffic direction, and reporting potential code enforcement violations to the police department.  By assisting with these duties, the VIPS not only provide an extra set of eyes and ears in our neighborhoods and business districts but they also allow police officers to spend more time patrolling our town and performing their other duties. 

VIPS

VIPS selected for this program will be required to provide a selected number of volunteer hours each month in order to stay active with the program and are encouraged to be available for major community events throughout the year.

VIPS that are selected for this program will be provided with training which takes place approximately once per week, depending on the work schedules for that given class of participants and their availability.  Training is divided into three different levels and participants can elect to attend training in the levels that they are interested in.  More information about training will be provided to participants after they are selected. 

JOIN US!

Individuals wishing to participate in our VIPS Program must be 21 years of age or older.  Our current VIPS are from all age ranges and from all walks of life.  They must first complete an application (available from the Munster Police Department's Records Division during regular business hours), a background check, and must also possess a valid driver's license in order to participate in patrol duties.  Subsequent stages of the selection process include an interview, psychological examination, and medical examination.  Participants will be required to sign a liability waiver and confidentiality agreement.  Candidates for the VIPS Program will be contacted as new group selection processes and training classes are scheduled.

For more information about the Munster Police Department's Volunteers in Police Service Program, please contact Lieutenant Dan Broelmann at 219-836-6650 or dbroelmann@munster.org.  

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James Ghrist,
D.A.R.E./Crime Prevention Officer

Police Department
1001 Ridge Rd
Munster, IN 46321
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