Crime Prevention/Volunteer Auxiliary

Police Department Volunteer program brochure

We love applications from people with Imagination, Fresh Ideas, and Energy

Welcome!

What is the Auxiliary?

The Corvallis Police Volunteer Auxiliary is dedicated to assisting the Corvallis Police Department in its delivery of non-enforcement services. The Auxiliary's two primary functions are to coordinate crime prevention programs and to represent the Department at civic events. The Auxiliary also carries out a number of ancillary functions, the full list of which is in the Auxiliary Manual available online through the link below.

To clarify what the Auxiliary is not, Auxiliary members on duty are never armed, take no part in law enforcement, and do not interact in any way with witnesses, victims, suspects, or prisoners.

Auxiliary Organization

The Auxiliary enjoys strong support and a good working relationship within the Department. It is under the auspices of Captain Nick Hurley, Professional Standards and Support Division Manager. The Auxiliary's Lead Volunteer works as a liaison with Captain Hurley and supervises Auxiliary activities.

Volunteers choose what activities they want to take part in and each member decides when, and how much, time they want to contribute. Volunteers have no obligations beyond doing what they commit to.

Crime Prevention Programs

Auxiliary members coordinate three major crime prevention programs.Volunteer opportunities for new members exist in each program.

Neighborhood Watch aims to reduce residential crime and make neighborhoods safe. It operates by neighbors forming a partnership among themselves and with the Corvallis Police Department. Neighbors commit to practicing good home security measures, to looking out for each other, and to reporting suspicious activity to the police. In turn, the Corvallis Police, through the Auxiliary, provide watch groups with home security training, a quarterly crime prevention newsletter, monthly reports on burglaries and crime in Corvallis, and information that helps keep people from becoming crime victims.

Business Watch focuses on businesses conducting cash, check, or credit card transactions. However, any business may enroll. Its purpose is to reduce financial loss due to criminal activity, especially paper crimes such as the various forms of fraud: counterfeiting, forgery, negotiating bad checks, and identity theft. The Corvallis Police Department, through the Auxiliary, issues alerts that warn businesses about criminal activity and the potential for crimes.

Corvallis Police 101 is both a crime prevention and an outreach program. During its eleven sessions participants get to know their police officers and learn about all facets of the Department. Corvallis Police 101 aims to build effective community-police partnerships and to enhance crime prevention awareness in Corvallis. The Auxiliary's roles is publicity, recruiting, application tracking, and contributing to curriculum development and to class and instructor scheduling. Auxiliary members also facilitate classes and serve refreshments. All Auxiliary members graduated the program as their first stop to becoming volunteers.

Volunteer Qualifications

Our qualification requirements are to have a sincere desire to enhance life in Corvallis by working with Corvallis Police to prevent crime and:

pass a criminal history background check
interact in a positive way with the general public
speak clearly
follow through on commitments, and
graduate the Corvallis Police 101 program

A cadres size of 10-12 volunteers works well for meeting our responsibilities. That said, we are always looking for new members who can bring fresh thoughts and new talents to help us better serve the Department. We are open to new ideas that improve how our programs operate and that encourage greater accomplishments. Staying within Department regulations, our opportunities are limited only by our imagination, initiative, and commitment to doing what we say we will do.

Volunteer Snapshots

While we are of many backgrounds, age groups, and interests we have in common is a desire to live in a community where streets are safe and we feel secure in our homes and neighborhoods. And in looking for volunteer opportunities we choose to contribute our time and abilities to making this happen.

A bunch of us are retired, most of us work full time, and some of us are students. We come from various careers including education, engineering, science, forestry, nursing, and business. Some of us are life-long area residents and others are relative newcomers. We enjoy music, photography, gardening, ham radio, riding motorcycles, martial arts, boating, writing, and traveling.

How to Apply

We invite your application to join us upon your graduation from Corvallis Police 101. You can learn about Corvallis Police 101 and download an Auxiliary Volunteer application and the Auxiliary Manual at the links below.

Volunteer/Internship/Cadet Application

Auxiliary Manual