Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS)

About the Program

The Sequim Police Department began our Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) Program in September of 1999. The program started with ten people from our community who applied for the program along with several other applicants.

Implementing the Program

The implementation of the program was accomplished through establishing policy and procedure to address the do’s and don’ts of the program and training was given to those ten volunteers on those policies and procedures as well as patrol, front office, dispatch, call taking, and various other police topics.

Growing Our Volunteer Base

Our volunteer force has grown substantially over the past 11 years, to the point where there are more volunteers than sworn officers. There is ongoing recruitment and hiring of volunteers. We have had a range of 15-21 volunteers over the past 11 years. All volunteers are provided with orientation and field training by experienced volunteers. Our program is evaluated yearly and last year we instituted individual program evaluations for the VIPS to verify that they are placed appropriately in our department to best suit their and our needs.

Programs Available Thanks to Our Volunteers

The programs we offer at our department are attributed to the volunteers. We would not be able to offer Project Lifesaver, business trespass enforcement, vacation house checks, speed radar checks, or child passenger safety inspections without their ongoing dedication.

We rely heavily on our volunteers. They regularly assist with tasks, projects, and assignments that would not be met with the limited staff in our department.

Common Volunteer Tasks & Activities

The Sequim Police Department officers, detectives, and support staff regularly seek volunteer assistance with projects, deadlines, and day-to-day activities. These include vehicle maintenance needs, crime scene protection, evidence collection, parades, traffic control, and clerical needs.

Recruiting, Hiring & Evaluating Our Program

The Sequim Police Department has established an effective way to recruit, hire, and evaluate our program. This has led to the success of our program. The VIPS program allows us to complete our police programming and is a major component of putting community in our community policing commitment.

VIPS Recognition

Our Volunteer In Police Service Program was awarded honorable mention by the International Association of Chief's of Police in 2011 for our outstanding achievement in law enforcement volunteer programs.

Join VIPS

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with our agency, contact the Sequim Police Department at (360) 683-7227. You will need to complete an application (PDF) to begin the process. If selected, you will be contacted for an interview. You will also be subject to a thorough background check. After successful completion, you may be offered a position as a Sequim Police Department Volunteer in Police Service.