RCMP volunteers needed

Feb 21, 2020 | 5:24 PM

Recruiting is underway to find RCMP volunteers to provide crime prevention services in the community.

Twelve volunteers are needed in Vernon, and six in Lumby.

The program has operated for 27 years as extra eyes and ears for RCMP, with duties such as night patrols, speed watch operations, foot patrols for special events, distracted driving operations, small vessel safety equipment checks, invasive mussel checks of boats and trailers, theft from vehicle crime prevention and disaster response.

New candidates are put through five-nights of core classroom training April 15 and 16 and continuing April 21, 22 and 23, 2020.

“This is a volunteer position working with the City of Vernon and North Okanagan Detachment of the RCMP under the direction and supervision of the Crime Prevention Coordinator and RCMP,” said a city news release. “The involvement of volunteers is a crucial way in which the RCMP engages the community to deliver a more effective policing service.”

Requirements to become an RCMP volunteer are:

-be between the ages of 19 and 79 years of age
-have no criminal record
-pass a comprehensive security screening conducted by the RCMP
-successfully complete the RCMP Volunteer Core Training Program
-make a two year commitment to the program

The age of volunteers in the program ranges from 20 to 79 years.

In preparation for training, volunteers will undergo interviews in March 2020, covering security and program interests. Training involves developing patrol skills, note-taking, court processes, observations skills and incident report writing as well as working with partner agencies such as the RCMP, Bylaw Compliance and ICBC.

After the 18 hour core classroom training, the new volunteers complete 18 hours of operational training with volunteer trainers who will instruct them on the practical aspects of the program.

Interested parties can contact Nikki Mulder (crime prevention administration) as soon as possible to complete an application and confirm an interview time. (250-550-7847 nmulder@vernon.ca)

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