Citizens invited to apply for police NOW program

Police can’t be on every corner, but you can!

Neighbors On Watch (NOW), the Vancouver Police Department's citizen patrol program, is accepting applications for volunteer citizen patrollers through January 26, 2012. Applicants must live in the city limits, be a U.S. Citizen, and be at least 21-years old. NOW volunteers receive specialized training to become “extra eyes and ears” in the community, as part of the police department’s Community Oriented Policing efforts.

Currently the NOW program has 87 civic leaders who represent 39 neighborhoods. All NOW volunteers are asked to commit to patrolling at least four hours per month. Citizen volunteers receive a minimum of 26 hours of training in observation skills, police radio communications, crime detection, personal protection and how to report crimes or suspicious activity. All training is provided by the Vancouver Police Department at no cost to the volunteer.

NOW is helping keep things safe while you shop this holiday season. Take a look at this recently filmed video depicting NOW volunteers in action: Operation Christmas Presence!

For more information about the NOW program, visit this Web page or contact Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Cheney at (360) 487-7467 or by e-mail at Kelly.Cheney@cityofvancouver.us.