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<br />By involving volunteers, EPD is able to provide additional services – services the public wants, but the department <br />is unable to provide or unable to make a priority due to budget and staffing limitations. Examples include home <br />vacation checks and enforcement of disabled parking space violations. <br /> <br />Volunteers maximize existing resources. By assisting with focused crime prevention <br />operations targeted at property crime hot spot areas, department resources are expanded. <br />EPD is able to reach more citizens and provide them with important crime prevention <br />information and services. Volunteers also provide support at department outreach events <br />including Police Activities League summer camps, National Night Out, Safety Town and the <br />Prevention Convention. They assist with administering the Crime Stoppers Program, purge <br />property for the Property Control Unit, photograph events, provide chaplain services and role- <br />play for disaster preparedness and team training exercises. <br /> <br />Because volunteers relieve paid staff of routine duties, employees are better able <br />to concentrate on other responsibilities. Examples include filing police reports and <br />citations for the Records Section; assisting the Property Crimes Unit by entering <br />transaction data from metal recyclers into a database; preparing certified copies of <br />audio tape records for the 911 Center; filing adult arrest fingerprint cards and <br />entering data for the Forensic Evidence Unit; providing reception at neighborhood <br />substations; and entering details concerning allegations of child abuse and neglect <br />into a spreadsheet for the Violent Crimes Unit. Seasoned volunteers further relieve <br />paid staff by serving as trainers for new volunteers. <br /> <br />Other highlights for 2009: <br />? <br /> Established in May 2009, Image Retrieval Team volunteers picked up surveillance videos from businesses <br />that were victims of financial and property crimes. <br />? <br /> Twelve volunteers provided support at the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police Conference which was <br />hosted in Eugene. Volunteers registered attendees, transported attendees to an off-site event, provided <br />support at a conference auction and delivered the invocation. <br />? <br /> Nineteen Seniors on Patrol volunteers spent 6,012 hours patrolling streets, bike <br />paths and parks, providing a theft-from-vehicle prevention service, issuing <br />warnings (782) and citations (464) to violators of signed disabled parking spaces, <br />assisting with traffic calming efforts and digitally photographing serialized and <br />valuable property. Members of this team also recovered 37 stolen vehicles and <br />conducted vacation checks at the homes of 177 Eugene residents. <br />? <br /> Twelve Huckleberry Patrol Team volunteers located, digitally photographed and <br />removed 493 graffiti tags in the midtown area. <br />? <br /> Eighteen Squad Car Maintenance Team volunteers spent 4,418 hours shuttling police cars needing <br />mechanical work (1,479 times), washing cars (908 times), inventorying and restocking trunks (626 times), <br />performing minor repairs (184 times) and changing tires (58 times). <br /> <br />Volunteers are being recruited for the Seniors on Patrol, Squad Car Maintenance Team, Subpoena Service Team <br />and the Crime Prevention Operations Support Team. Comprehensive program information including full volunteer <br />position descriptions can be found at www.eugene-or.gov/policevolunteers. <br /> <br />For more information, contact Volunteers in Policing Program Manager Carrie Chouinard at 682-5355 or <br />carrie.f.chouinard@ci.eugene.or.us. <br /> <br />City Booths at Asian Celebration Highlight City Services and Programs <br />This weekend, the City of Eugene will host two adjoining booths at the annual Oregon Asian Celebration. One <br />booth will highlight the range of City services and programs, while the other will focus on public safety and crime <br />prevention. The booths will be staffed by representatives from City departments and City boards and <br />commissions. <br /> <br />“Reflections of 25 Years” is the theme of this year’s event in celebration of the 25th anniversary of this popular <br />community festival. During both days of the festival, visitors can enjoy a bustling array of Asian culture through a <br />colorful marketplace of vendors, Asian and Asian-American dances and entertainment, a fine arts exhibit, crafts, <br /> <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 <br />February 18, 2010 <br />