The Volunteers in Policing (VIP) program helps participants gain valuable insight in to the daily activities of the Hermosa Beach Police Department. Volunteers have the opportunity to improve the quality of their local law enforcement service through their work, their attitude, and ideas for improving programs. Our program increases community pride by allowing volunteers to serve as role models and most importantly, be part of a community program concerned with the common good and well being of the city we all love.

VIP Volunteer Requirements - volunteers participating in the program will be required to complete an application, an interview, and successfully pass a background check. Additional requirements for the program consist of possessing a valid driver's license, being 18 years of age, in good physical health, successfully meeting the selection criteria of the program, and the desire to contribute a minimum of 10 hours per month.

In both the public and private sector, administrators are constantly seeking ways to enhance the effectiveness of their organizations. In the law enforcement profession, one way to do this is to recruit more officers. This, however, is not always feasible because of fiscal limitations. In Hermosa Beach, the Police Department has developed a way to maximize its service without incurring a substantial financial burden. The concept is simple: recruit volunteers from the community, train them in various police-related duties, and then allow them to function in direct support of Police Department staff. Hermosa Beach has proven to be an ideal environment for such a program since its residents pride themselves in community involvement. Volunteers function as an auxiliary unit of the Police Department, with no powers of arrest beyond those of any private citizen. They serve as extra eyes, ears and helping hands. They carry no weapons, but they do have cellular phones/radios, which allows for direct communication with our dispatchers and police officers. This enables them to report any suspicious activity quickly so that an officer can investigate what might have otherwise gone unnoticed or unreported. The volunteers will also undertake projects, which could not have otherwise been considered due to lack of manpower or resources.

To request information about the VIP program please e-mail the Program Coordinator at: ProgramCoordinator@hermosabeach.gov.