FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE??????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? AG
THURSDAY,
MAY 30, 2002??????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????? (202) 514-2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV TDD
?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (202)
514-1888
ATTORNEY GENERAL
ASHCROFT ANNOUNCES
CITIZEN CORPS?
VOLUNTEERS IN POLICE SERVICE INITIATIVE
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John
Ashcroft today launched the Citizen Corps? Volunteers in Police Service (VIPs)
initiative. The VIPs program is a response to President George W. Bush?s call
to all Americans to dedicate time to serving our communities and our nation,
and is
one of several opportunities emerging through the new Citizen Corps initiative
to enhance local homeland security efforts and make emergency preparedness a
part of our daily lives.
?The efforts of these volunteers
enable officers to stay on the front lines where they are needed most,? said
Attorney General John Ashcroft. ?Through programs such as Volunteers in Police
Service, volunteers can assist police in performing routine duties which are
necessary to the efficient operation of their departments. Though the work may
not be glamorous, it is essential.?
Volunteers who participate in VIPs programs assist
departments by performing non-sworn duties such as answering phones, compiling
crime data, preparing incident reports, and facilitating crime prevention
programs. VIPs is
the first program to bring together law enforcement volunteer programs
nationwide to share resources and support each other?s efforts. This national
initiative assists state and local law enforcement agencies by increasing the number
of law enforcement volunteers, expanding or improving various components of
existing programs, and aiding agencies without VIPs programs to establish them.
?President Bush
created his USA Freedom Corps initiative to help Americans respond to the terrorist
attacks of September 11 with acts of kindness and compassion,? said John
Bridgeland, Director of the USA Freedom Corps, the White House coordinating
council that oversees the Citizen Corps and its programs.? ?Programs like VIPs create new opportunities
for citizens to get involved.?
Ashcroft also unveiled http://www.policevolunteers.org/, a comprehensive website developed by the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) to support the VIPs program. ?The
website coordinates information from VIPs programs in our local communities to
create a nationwide resource,? said William Berger, President of the IACP. ?It
provides information about all VIPs programs, and allows law enforcement
agencies and volunteers alike to communicate in order to improve their programs
and create more opportunities for volunteer services.?
Citizens are encouraged to visit
www.policevolunteers.org to find out how they can
become involved in VIPS programs in their communities.
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