Senior volunteer patrol seeks more recruits

The sheriff’s Ramona station is looking for more men and women to join the senior volunteer patrol.

A training academy for senior volunteers will start in September.

The Ramona station has about 30 seniors who assist the sheriff’s department but, due to recent retirements, needs about five additional recruits.

Duties of senior volunteers include: vacation checks on homes of Ramona residents, enforcement of violations of disabled parking spaces, contacts with and visits to homebound seniors who live alone, and patrolling shopping centers, schools and neighborhoods. When needed, they also assist at civic functions, with traffic control and perform other duties to help the sheriff’s department.

To qualify, male and female applicants must be U.S. Citizens, age 50 or older, must have a valid California driver’s license, have auto and health insurance, and be able to pass a background check by the sheriff’s department.

Once accepted, the volunteer will attend a two-week academy and training patrols. The academy teaches the recruit how to perform the duties, driver training and use of the police radio. After the academy, the minimum commitment is one six-hour patrol each week and attendance at a monthly meeting.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the Ramona Sheriff’s Senior Volunteer Patrol may contact Bill Hicks at 760-738-2481.