The next time you see one of our Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers, make sure you congratulate them for their recent, national award selection by the Volunteers in Police Service, or VIPS, program. The SAV will be honored at the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference in November with the Outstanding Achievement in Law Enforcement Volunteer Programs Award. The Volunteers in Police Service is a program managed and implemented by the IACP and designed to promote volunteerism in support of state and local law enforcement.

In June of this year, the Sheriff submitted our Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers for this prestigious award. According to the award announcement, “The VIPS Award will recognize those agencies who have shown leadership in creating and sustaining programs that successfully integrate volunteers into overall organizational operations and administration of law enforcement work.” This award acknowledges the incredible service and support provided by our Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers in Ajo, Green Valley and Tucson. A very proud Sheriff Dupnik commented, “You’ll find no better example of volunteerism, or spirit of service to our fellow citizen, than the SAV. They’re a Godsend.”

We all know first hand the great job the SAV perform and we all know just how indispensable they’ve become to our public safety mission. We also know the SAV save the citizens of Pima County millions of dollars every year. Now the international police community will also know. Congratulations, Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers!