Jim Barrett retired in August after working for 25 years in Student Auxiliary Services for BYU, but he hasn’t kicked back and hit the golf course yet; he’s too busy patrolling the streets of Provo in a volunteer squad-car.
Barrett is one of the many volunteers serving the Provo Police in the new program: Volunteering in Police Service (VIPs). Mayor John Curtis and the Provo police unveiled VIPS Tuesday as a program to encourage residents to become involved in police work. After committing eight hours a month to the police force, residents are given a uniform and the responsibility to help keep Provo safe.
“We are excited for the opportunity to work in partnership with the community and believe in providing high quality policing services and are thankful for volunteers and their willingness to contribute and make this community a better and safer place.,” said Lt. Todd Grossgebauer, volunteer coordinator for the Provo Police. “I see down the road many, many volunteers who are volunteering to make our community a safer place.”
Barrett has only been a volunteer for a few days but he said he is excited to be a part of the force. Barrett works in Lehi at Xango while he is not with the force, but he will assist police officers from a refurbished and modified volunteer squad car. The squad cars sport yellow and red lights as well as directional-traffic control. They were built from “worn out” patrol cars and have been reconfigured with very minimal cost.
“These cars demonstrate the resourcefulness and thriftyness of our city,” Curtis said. “We exceed the national average by 4.5 percent and Provo leads the nation in volunteerism.”
Volunteers are able to participate in all elements of police work including administrative assistance, citizen patrols, special events, victim services, Explorer post and traffic complaints. Volunteers must be 18 years old or older to participate and have a clean criminal record.
“People that know me know that I love to help people,” Barrett said. “I’m planning on helping at least eight hours a week.”
