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Good for youBy DONNA WINCHESTER © St. Petersburg Times, published November 5, 2000 The Pinellas Park Police Department's Volunteers in Policing (VIP) program has been honored as the best volunteer program with a budget of less than $250,000 by the International Festivals and Events Association (IFEA). Sgt. Mark Berger accepted a Gold Pinnacle, the top award given by IFEA, at an awards ceremony recently in New Orleans. The IFEA Pinnacle Awards Competition recognizes outstanding achievement in a variety of areas, including volunteer community service. The police department created the VIP program in 1999. With demands for police services growing faster than the budget, the department recognized the need to establish a volunteer team to assist with non-criminal duties. A specialized training course was developed and graduated 21 volunteers in October 1999. The volunteer program has grown to 37 members who handle a variety of assignments. They respond to disabled vehicles and minor traffic accidents and assist with parking enforcement, radar speed surveys and language interpreter needs. They perform school crossing guard duties and take and enter calls in the police station's communications section. They also have assisted in staffing citywide functions such as the Pinellas Park annual holiday parade and Country in the Park. The volunteers -- business people, retirees, city workers and council members -- have contributed more than 10,000 hours of service, making the delivery of police services more efficient. The Pinellas Park City Council presented the Gold Pinnacle award to the volunteers at a council meeting in October.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
