Volunteer Opportunities in VIPS

The Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program provides support and resources for the MPD by utilizing citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills to the City of Maricopa Police Department. The program's ultimate goal is to enhance the capacity of local law enforcement.

If you have any questions, please email vips@maricopa-az.gov.

Volunteering Opportunities

Courier

Responsibilities: To assist with timely delivery of correspondence, pick up correspondence folder at MPD; deliver contents to appropriate sites; pick up mail from Pinal County Court and deliver to City of Maricopa Court; bring warrants from City of Maricopa Court to MPD dispatch.

Administration/Fingerprinting

Responsibilities: Provide clerical support to various MPD departments; fingerprinting team completes misdemeanor offenders’ fingerprints at MPD headquarters for the courts; team lead completes fingerprinting for volunteer applicants and recruits.

Speed Radar Trailers

Responsibilities: Every two weeks, transport and set up MPD speed radar trailer units at pre-determined locations throughout the City; calibrate speed requirements; download information to produce reports detailing traffic speed, volume and compliance.

Citizens on Patrol (COPs)

Responsibilities: To be the “eyes and ears” for the MPD by being visible in the community; complete House/Vacation Watches; Business Checks - patrol assigned businesses, reporting property violations, suspicious circumstances and showing community presence; School Checks – patrol schools during summer breaks (or no-school days) for apparent tampering with school property; patrol assigned HOAs and other communities in the City; Community Enhancement Program (CEP) – log and tag vehicles that are in violation of City parking ordinances. Tags are used to educate, not cite, vehicle operators.

Park Patrol

Responsibilities: Patrol Copper Sky Recreational Center grounds (or where MPD requests on occasion) using MPD golf carts; be additional “eyes and ears” for MPD and report any suspicious circumstances or actionable information to MPD Dispatch; show community presence.

Fleet Management

Responsibilities: This team is responsible for transporting MPD vehicles to/from local and/or Phoenix area businesses for repair, service, or equipment installation.

You Are Not Alone (YANA) Program

Responsibilities: Volunteers make regularly-scheduled phone calls, occasional home visits and provide support,  resources and referral information to City residents who may live alone and have limited mobility. A series of steps are followed to assure the safety and well-being of program participants.

Special Events 

Responsibilities: Assist with the coordination for events; schedule volunteers for events and provide information about event requirements; coordinate with appropriate Command staff to assemble needed assets for events; arrange for equipment to be transported to event site; arrange set up/take down; provide volunteer staffing as needed to cover the event.

(All VIPS are encouraged, not required, to assist with MPD- and City-sponsored events.)