Many cities vastly expand services to their residents and businesses through a variety of volunteer programs where citizens work alongside full-time city employees. Although there are a number of volunteer programs related to Richmond City government, mostly related to the various boards and commissions, Chief Charles Bennett”s Police Department volunteer programs are being highlighted as an example of what can be done in challenging times to not only maintain but to expand maintain city services.

The Richmond Police Department has one of the City”s most successful volunteer programs, leveraging the effectiveness of the department far beyond its paid, full-time officers. Volunteer programs include Police Reserves, Police Explorers, PAL, Neighborhood Watch, Chaplains Program, School Resource Officer Program , Citizens Academy, Crime Prevention Techniques, Citizen Mail-in Crime Report Forms and Homeland Security.

One of these programs, the Advanced Citizens Academy, graduated fourteen Richmond residents on July 7, 2004.

The Citizen’s Academy is a program conducted primarily by officers from the Richmond Police Department. The focus of this program is general Police Department operational procedure. During the Academy students receive training in areas ranging from Community Oriented Policing to the use of Police Canines.

The overall purpose of the Citizen’s Academy is to build a better understanding between the community and the Richmond Police Department, to educate the community on the many complexities of law enforcement, and to establish, develop and nurture community partnerships.

The Basic Academy consists of 10 classes that provide participants with 30 hours of comprehensive training. The Advanced Academy adds an additional 35 hours of training during seven weekly sessions of five hours each.

For additional information on the Citizen’s Academy, or to sign up for the Academy, please contact Lieutenant Eva Wilson by email or by calling (510) 620-6642. Volunteers are known as a V.I.P.O.R. (Volunteers In Policing Our Richmond). For more information, call the Volunteer Services Unit of the Police Department at 620-6632, or fill out a Volunteer Interest Form.

Those honored at the Advanced Citizens Academy graduation include:

Rebecca Olson ” Richmond native took the class with her mother, Peggy Veal. She previously completed the Basic Academy and has done ride-alongs in the past. Peggy Veal ” Kiwanian and former Red Cross director, previously completed Basic Academy. Edward Milburn ” Retired military, VIPOR at the Iron Triangle Substation. Completed Basic Academy in 2003. Sara Cleveland ” Active in the North and east Neighborhood Council and other organizations Peter Cleveland – Active in the North and east Neighborhood Council and other organizations Emma Moore ” VIPOR and completed the Basic Academy last fall, participates in numerous Richmond Police volunteer activities James Walker ” City employee (combo mechanic at Corp Yard) and new to the area, youth sport coach for his son”s team Suzanne Tchan ” VIPOR and active in many Richmond Police volunteer activities and events, works with Senior Legal Aid Ronnie Marty ” Active in North and East Neighborhood Council, coordinator of the :”Welcome to the Neighborhood” program, very involved in community education, VIPOR Delores Rodriguez ” VIPOR, assists the Patrol Bureau Secretary, active volunteer in Richmond Police Department Events Simms Thompson ” Very involved in community affairs, serves on Richmond Housing Commission Deanna Johnson ” VIPOR, completed Basic Citizens Academy last fall Virginia Waters ” Local businesswoman, completed Basic Citizens Academy last fall Courtland Booze ” Local businessman, candidate for City Council

Officers who participated in the training and the graduation include Sgt. Joe Silva (Traffic Sergeant), Detective Lou Pereira (Fraud Investigator), Master Officer Dick Tak (Acting Supervisor Code Enforcement), Detective Brian Dickerson (Family Services Unit), Officer Delon Jackson (SRO and CAT) and Officer Kevin Simmons (Patrol).