Dallas Police will be training community crime-fighters as part of their Volunteers in Patrol (VIP) program this fall. VIP Orientation Training can be taken as a one-time, all-day class September 10 from 10am to 4pm at Dallas City Hall, or as 3 evening classes November 7th, 8th & 10th from 7-9:30pm at the Northeast Station, 9915 E. Northwest Highway.
The VIP program is designed to reduce crime by training citizens to patrol their own neighborhoods, recognizing suspicious activity and reporting criminals to police.
DPD uses volunteers in other situations as well, including CHIPS (Citizens Helping in Parking Solutions) and COPS (Citizens Offering Police Support). More than 13,000 volunteers have logged more than 10,000 hours to date.
Participants in VIP must be 21 years of age, belong to an established crime watch or HOA, pass a background check and have no felony convictions. You can download the application form and view other requirements here. You’ll also need to sign this confidentiality agreement and this waiver of liability. To sign up or ask questions, email Senior Corporal Bert Rippy here. And could ya keep an extra eye on my house?
