county deputies, or state troopers.
By Stephen Smoot
Jon Harbert, Chief of Police for the City of Shinnston, is looking for a few good men and women with the desire to serve the community, help others, and enhance both the fun and safety of public events.
He is putting together a program to recruit very important people to serve as Volunteers In Police Service.
Chief Harbert explained that he has sought to establish this program in Shinnston over the past several years, but that other priorities and problems had to be tackled first.
Volunteers would receive special uniforms and some may even get to drive cruisers. Both the uniform and vehicle, however, would be marked in such a way as that neither could be confused with law enforcement.
Tasks would include backing up the official police parades, concerts, and other “large events in the city,” said Chief Harbert. Some may even be asked to conduct patrols in cruisers, but with the object being to report, not solve, problems. Trained law enforcement would still directly deal with issues that arise.
“They can be an extra set of eyes, like they have in Bridgeport,” he added.
For nearly 30 years, Bridgeport has operated what started as the Citizens Auxiliary Patrol Service, or CAPS. It later took on the VIPS acronym as its name. It has 30 volunteers in service. As Connect Bridgeport stated in an article about VIPS, members receive a uniform and police radio. Two specially marked cruisers are set aside for the use of VIPS.
In Bridgeport, VIPS has evolved until it has three separate divisions – Operations, Administration, and Emergency Services. The city provides specialized training to establish both the expectations and the limitations of what VIPS members can and cannot do.
While Bridgeport has the largest VIPS contingent, other area cities, such as Buckhannon, have found them a vital help in assisting and supporting law enforcement operations and needs.
Chief Harbert shared that he has heard from five or six so far, but hopes to start with a cadre of between 12 and 15. He stated that since forming this team would be “an extra budget expense,” he hopes that those who express interest take the project and the potential for service seriously.
If all works out, the City of Shinnston will have that many more citizens directly involved in protecting life and property while also serving the people.
