Watching the streets: Citizen’s Patrol aids NLV police

In a crime-ridden city that's battling financial woes, the North Las Vegas Police Department needs all the help it can get. So the Volunteers in Police Services Citizen's Patrol Program brings an age-old service of street patrol.

"I've been involved with Neighborhood Watch for years, and in my mind, this is the perfect marriage to integrate a community watch program with volunteering in police service," said Ward 4 Councilman Richard Cherchio, who started the program in 2010. "Part of my goal has been to be a visual deterrent to crime."

VIPS was created after 9/11 to help coordinate volunteer activities to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation, according to the International Association of Chiefs of Police website, theiacp.org/VIPS.

Currently, North Las Vegas has 20 people who volunteer and patrol the streets in surplus Ford Crown Victorias. They can be seen wearing hand-me-down jackets from the city's police department and keeping an eye out for trouble in the area north of Alexander Road.

"VIPS revolves more around the idea of preventing crime," said Mark Klein, coordinator at VIPS. "Our goal is to make North Las Vegas one of the top five lowest communities in crime."

Cherchio estimates that the program has saved the city "hundreds of thousands of dollars in terms of service."

Klein has been volunteering for a little less than a year. He spent 10 years working as a private police officer and also worked as a security supervisor at Harrah's.

"This is my fourth retirement," Klein said.

Their work does not go unappreciated.

North Las Vegas Police Department spokesman Aaron Patty said that the police department is thankful to have these volunteers by its side.

"It's a great opportunity for people to serve their community," Patty said. "Now that we're coming up on the holidays, they'll be able to patrol the retail outlet parking lots to deter crime. When people see them, they're going to think twice about committing a crime."

Klein added that he constantly see neighbors waving and thanking them for their work.

Since they are not armed, they primarily focus on reporting graffiti, broken streetlights and assisting police offers. If volunteers need to report a crime, they use their department-issued cellphones for backup.

Some members are on call 24 hours a day. They are often called to release officers from minor jobs, such as directing traffic after a crash or at DUI checkpoints, which allows the officers to pursue more dangerous calls.

The group recently hosted its volunteer training academy, a 40-hour, weeklong training program held annually, typically in the fall. The training is required for those who wish to become VIPS members. Participants learn verbal judo, also known as verbal defense, and learn what the police department expects from them.

Whether it is training season, those interested are encouraged to fill out an interest card at North Las Vegas' website at bit.ly/1QyBz5g, after which an interview will be conducted alongside a full police background check.

To apply, volunteers must be 21 or older and possess a valid driver's license.

Cherchio, who still continues to patrol, said volunteers should be available to volunteer for 16 hours of patrolling a month. The hours are flexible, and volunteers can set their own schedule as long as they patrol with a partner.

The group prefers people who live or work in North Las Vegas, although anyone can apply.

Those who are interested but missed the training and passed the background check have an opportunity to go on a ride-along with VIPS volunteers.

"We do this so they can get exposure and gain interest for the program," Klein said. "They'll be able to see what we do and see if this is something they want to participate in."

Volunteers are currently training to give out handicap parking tickets, which is set to happen by the end of the year.

"We get a lot of complaints from people about those who park in handicap spaces without a permit," Klein said. "We want to keep these spaces open to those who are actually disabled."

The program also had plans to expand to the South Area Command Station in North Las Vegas next year.

They are hoping people who are bilingual apply for the program.

"We're the eyes and ears of the police," Cherchio said. "We do foot patrol and walk around the community. We're the bridge between the police and the community."

For more information, contact Cherchio at 702-325-6708 or richardcherchio@yahoo.com.

— To reach North View reporter Sandy Lopez, email slopez@viewnews.com or call 702-383-4686. Find her on Twitter: @JournalismSandy