LAKEPORT, Calif. – Last year volunteers contributed a significant amount of time and support for the Lakeport Police Department, according to a report made to the Lakeport City Council Tuesday night.
Lt. Jason Ferguson presented the report to the council.
Ferguson said the department has an “extraordinary” group of volunteers who donate an enormous amount of time and support.
“For us right now it is invaluable,” said Ferguson.
They are responsible for, among other things, parking enforcement, managing evidence, the decoy car program, and special projects and events, he said.
Currently there are six volunteers, said Ferguson. They include Greg Scott, a retired Cal Fire official with extensive emergency planning experience; Antonio Castellanos, a student who also is a California Highway Patrol cadet; Jean Patti, who handles evidence; Pastor Mike Suski, who acts as the department's chaplain; Carl Touros; and Jonathan McAloon.
Ferguson said the department had just hired retired businessman John Norcio, with several others still in the hiring process.
He emphasized the volunteers’ value to the police department.
Combined, all of those individuals put in 1,950 hours of service time in 2012, Ferguson said.
He said that pencils out to about $35,100 worth of services.
Council members thanked the volunteers for their proactive way of serving the community.
Ferguson told Lake County News that in 2011 the volunteers had worked a combined total of 3,032 hours valued at $43,000.
Part of the drop in numbers may be due to some volunteers who have moved or retired. Ferguson had told the council that the department had lost four of its volunteers for those reasons.
For more information about joining the Lakeport Police Department volunteer program, call the agency at 707-263-5491.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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