The Denver Police Department has tapped a seemingly deep well of citizens willing to volunteer their time helping officers with much of the routine, day-to-day police work.
Chief Gerry Whitman said at a news conference Thursday that the department’s Volunteers in Policing (VIP) program has signed up 390 volunteers who have completed six- to eight-week training courses.
The volunteers, who run the gamut in age, diversity and education, will assist in “almost every segment” of police work except enforcement and investigations of crimes against persons, said Sgt. Matt Murray, who runs the VIP program. “They’re a talented and energetic group, including a Qwest executive, an IBM computer expert and another with a master’s degree,” he said.
“The IBM employee will be creating databases and websites for us. She’ll do most of her work at home and e-mail it to us,” Murray said.
Some specifically requested training to work in the department’s crime lab, with duties including gathering evidence at “cold” burglary scenes, said Gregg LaBerge, head of the lab.
“These volunteers will receive the same training as paid civilians,” he said. “It requires a certain degree of competency. And all of them will be sworn to their work.”
Brook McCarty, who comes from a family of law enforcement, is about to complete her crime-scene training and can’t wait to get started.
“I’m working as a volunteer to see if I can handle this job,” she said, adding that she hopes it leads to permanent employment. She currently works in apartment leasing.
Of the dozen volunteers who met the media Thursday, Joe Loveless caused the greatest stir when Murray introduced him as a terminally ill volunteer.
Standing with crutches before the notebooks and cameras, Loveless, 57, said, “The doctors told me I only have a few years left, so I want to spend the rest of my life giving back. This has been very rewarding for me.”
Loveless works five mornings a week ushering witnesses up to the third-floor detective offices, calming them down and escorting them out. He also does filing and other duties in the human-resources office.
