Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol:
In early 2009, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office implemented a new volunteer program, the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol. The Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol is a citizen based program that allows residents of El Paso County the ability to volunteer within their community performing law enforcement related duties that do not require a sworn officer. This program allows its volunteers to actively participate in a wide variety of areas in law enforcement that were historically unavailable to its volunteers.
Some of these areas include:
- Motorist Assist – Help stranded motorists.
- Traffic Control – Assist at accident scenes. Speed monitoring, reporting, etc.
- Parking Complaints – Report and tag abandoned vehicles. Assess parking violations. (Do not Issue Summons)
- Crime Prevention Assistance – Attend neighborhood watch meetings, conduct vacation checks on homes, update business information cards, etc.
- Residential/Business Alarms – Remote observation and reporting from vehicle.
- Towing – Assist deputies with impounding abandoned vehicles.
- Animal Complaints – Respond to calls of loose or abandoned animals as well as animal neglect or abuse.
Training for this program is twofold. First, volunteers are recruited from a 7-week Citizens Academy. Classes meet on Tuesday nights at the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office training facility. The training includes the mission of the Sheriff’s Office as well as an overview of the various bureaus and divisions that comprise the Office.
During the Citizens Academy, the Sheriff’s Citizen Patrol program is covered and those students who are interested are recruited as conditional members at that time. Volunteers must successfully complete a background process identical to that required of deputy sheriff candidates due to the position of trust they will hold with the public.
Minimum Requirements Include:
- 21 years of age or older and United States citizenship
- Possess a valid driver’s license
- Pass a background investigation, Computer Stress Voice Analysis (CVSA) exam, a medical screening, and a drug screen
- No prior felony conviction
- Able to deal with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
Once a citizen completes these requirements, a second 45 hour training program is required. This program meets one night a week for ten weeks and covers a myriad of law enforcement related topics. The curriculum focuses on skills needed while working as a Citizen Patrol volunteer. Topics include officer safety, law enforcement ethics, report writing, radio communications, speed monitoring, traffic direction, accident scene preservation, crime prevention, and much more.
Upon graduation, volunteers will be quickly integrated into the Patrol Division with field training by both sworn deputies and Citizen Patrol field training officers in order to gain on the job training experience.
To download a tri-fold brochure about this program, please click on the image below.
To contact the Sheriff's Citizen Patrol Office please call (719) 520-7573.
To download the Vacation Check Request Form, click here.
For more information contact:
| Contact |
Title |
Telephone |
Email |
| Marco Vazzano |
Administrative Lieutenant |
(719) 520-7551 |
Marco Vazzano |
| Cathryn Richards |
Volunteer Coordinator |
(719) 520-7216 |
Cathryn Richards |
| Rick Dietz |
Personnel Specialist |
(719) 520-7135 |
Rick Dietz |
| Beth Hjelmstad |
Personnel Specialist |
(719) 520-7247 |
Beth Hjelmstad |
To find out more about the Patrol Section, click on any of the links located below.