Hollister Police VIP Program

Volunteer in Policing

The Hollister Police Department's Volunteer in Policing (V.I.P.) program is composed of citizens of Hollister who are familiar with, live, or work in the City of Hollister. These trained volunteers are utilized to enhance crime prevention and assist the Hollister Police Department in providing the highest level of service possible. Through the efforts of these volunteers, the Hollister Police Department is able to provide a level of service beyond current fiscal limits. Hollister's Volunteer in Policing personnel perform a multitude of functions for our agency. 

The following is a list of positions currently staffed or planned within the Department:

• Citizen's on Patrol
• Neighborhood Watch
• Crime Prevention Aide
• Records Assistant
• Detectives Assistant
• Multi Service Officer Assistant

In both the public and private sector, administrators are seeking ways to enhance the effectiveness of their organizations. Hollister's Volunteer in Policing program is designed so that the Police Department can achieve this goal while expanding our efforts to bring the community back into the fight against crime. A partnership must be forged between the community and police department so that a more proactive approach towards crime prevention can be implemented. The concept is simple; recruit volunteers from the community, train them in various non-hazardous law enforcement tasks, and allow them to function in direct support of the local police. Hollister's Volunteer in Policing program unites the Hollister Police Department and members of our community by:

• Forming a mutual partnership whereby volunteers supplement existing services, freeing paid staff to perform other necessary duties
• Placing Volunteers in projects which best utilize their existing skills, talents and interests while offering a rewarding challenge, and in some cases, new skills.
• Building better community relations by giving the public the opportunity to become familiar with the services provided by our department as well as a better understanding of the inner workings of the Hollister Police Department.

These Volunteers function as an auxiliary unit of the police department, with no powers of arrest beyond those of a private citizen. They serve as extra eyes, ears and helping hands. Hollister's Volunteer in Policing program will assist police staff with multiple tasks. This significantly enhances the Department's ability to focus sworn officers on duties which volunteers cannot perform. The volunteer will also undertake projects which would not have otherwise been considered due to lack of personnel.

Requirements for participating in this program are as follows:

• Successful completion of the V.I.P. Academy or Hollister Citizen's Police Academy.
• Satisfactory background check.
• Attend monthly training meetings.
• Work a minimum of 4 hours per week

The V.I.P. Academy is a 16 hour weekend course designed to familiarize potential V.I.P.'s with then general workings of the Hollister Police Department. The Academy is a scaled down version of the Citizens Police Academy.

For information on becoming a Volunteer in Policing (V.I.P.) call the program coordinator at (831)-636-4330 or e-mail Captain Richard Vasquez.