IACP/Wilmington University Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement
Volunteer Programs

The IACP/Wilmington University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs recognizes volunteer programs that demonstrate innovative, effective practices for augmenting sworn or civilian staff and/or improving service delivery to their communities.

This year’s winners of the IACP/Wilmington University Award for Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs are the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina, Police Department, the Fresno, California, Police Department, and the Grapevine, Texas, Police Department. The following agencies were recognized for Honorable Mention: Folsom, California, Police Department; Goodyear, Arizona, Police Department; North Richland Hills, Texas, Police Department; Redlands, California, Police Department; Surprise, Arizona, Police Department; and Vancouver, Washington, Police Department.

These agencies were recognized at a reception on October 2, 2012, during the IACP’s annual conference in San Diego. Awards for the recipients were presented by Dr. Jeff Magers, Chair of the IACP Police Administrative Committee; Kirk Trate, Director of Criminal Justice at Wilmington University; Denise O’Donnell, Director of BJA; and Ronal Serpas, Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department and IACP Third Vice President. For a description of tne winning agencies' acheivements, click here.

Pictured left to right: Kirk Trate, Director of Criminal Justice at Wilmington University; Officer Celestine Ratliff, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department; Sgt. Brenda Trobaugh, Fresno Police Department; Sgt. Dale Roath, Grapevine Police Department; and Dr. Jeff Magers, Chair of the IACP Police Administrative Committee

Established in 2003, the goal of the award program is to recognize the value that volunteers provide to state and local law enforcement and to institutionalize the theories and practices of the national Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Program. The Volunteers in Police service (VIPS) program has its roots in the USA Freedom Crops initiative which followed the September 11 attacks. Citizen Corps was created in 2002 to help coordinate volunteer activities to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threat of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds.

Citizen Corps partner programs build off the successful efforts in many communities around the country to prevent crime and respond to emergencies. VIPS is one of five Citizen Corps partner programs. The IACP manages the VIPS program in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice

Click here for information and an application for the 2013 award program. Application deadline May 15, 2013.

For more information on how to apply, contact Carolyn Cockroft at cockroftc@theiacp.org.