Maricopa’s police volunteer group was recognized during a recent City Council proclamation in honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

Members of Volunteers in Police Service stood by as Mayor Nancy Smith read her proclamation that highlighted the group’s accomplishments over the past year.

Mayor Nancy Smith reads a proclamation for National Volunteer Appreciation Week during a city council meeting on April 4, 2023 at Maricopa City Hall. Members of Volunteers in Police Service stand in the background. Monica D. Spencer/InMaricopa

“In 2022, over 50 volunteers contributed over 9,100 hours of their time to the City of Maricopa Police Department,” Smith said. “This is an equivalent of over four full-time employees, saving the city more than $272,000.”

VIPS is a program consisting of a few-dozen volunteers, who offer operations and community support services to MPD. Its goal is to “enhance the capacity of local law enforcement,” according to the group’s webpage.

Members of VIPS perform a variety of responsibilities during their required eight hours per month. This includes removing graffiti, fingerprinting people in court and assisting as trained crisis-response volunteers at crime scenes.

“They do so many little things that people are not aware of,” said Community Support Specialist Jim DeVenezia. “But if it wasn’t for those little things, people would notice.”

Volunteer Randy Dodson assists with setting up radar speed-control devices throughout the city every two weeks and supporting fleet management.

“It’s just fun. I really enjoy working with people in the community,” Dodson said.

On fleet management, Dodson is among the volunteers responsible for transporting MPD vehicles to and from Phoenix for repairs and service. For him, one of the perks is a generally smooth drive on State Route 347.

Jim DeVenezia, Community Support Specialist for Maricopa’s Volunteers in Police Service, speaks about the group’s work as it is recognized during a proclamation for National Volunteer Appreciation Week during a city council meeting on April 4, 2023. Monica D. Spencer/InMaricopa

“Driving the police cars back and forth to Phoenix on the 347, nobody speeds,” Dodson said. “Nobody passes us when we’re driving those up there.”

“Every volunteer that we have gives of their time freely,” said Jim DeVenezia, VIPS’ community-support specialist. “Our volunteers are making our city safer, they’re making it more beautiful and they just want your support.”

For information about volunteering with VIPS: Visit the city website.

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