Politics & Government

Senior Volunteer Programs Save $10M+ Per Year in San Diego County

The San Diego County grand jury recommends continuation and possible expansion of the senior volunteer programs, calling them a significant asset to the community.

Ordinary citizens serving as senior volunteer patrol members are providing more than $10 million worth of support services each year to law enforcement agencies in San Diego County, according to a grand jury report released last week.

The San Diego County grand jury recommends continuation and possible expansion of the senior volunteer programs, calling them a significant asset to the community.

Law enforcement agencies under the direction of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and seven county municipal police departments utilize the senior volunteer patrols for law enforcement-related tasks that do not require a sworn officer to perform.

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Those duties include assisting police agencies with traffic control, transportation of evidence, contacting home-bound citizens to assure that they are safe, and issuing citations for fire lane and handicapped parking violations.

Senior volunteer patrol members patrolling their communities in marked law enforcement vehicles provide an additional, virtually no-cost additional police presence in the community, according to the grand jury report.

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—City News Service


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