Citizens who want to become extra eyes and ears for the Vancouver Police Department are invited to apply by Aug. 9 for the Neighbors On Watch volunteer citizen patrol program.
Applicants must be older than age 21, reside in the city limits of Vancouver, pass a series of background checks and interviews, and graduate from the NOW Training Academy before becoming patrollers.
Training topics include observation skills, police radio communications, patrol procedures, personal safety, information gathering and incident reporting.
NOW volunteers patrol in neighborhoods, business parking lots, parks, and other areas that could use special attention. Volunteers also assist in searches for missing people, educational flier distribution, locating stolen automobiles, and special projects.
For more information on the NOW program, visit the Vancouver Police Department at http://www.vanpolice.org and click on “Community Partnerships” or contact Vancouver Police Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Cheney at 360-487-7467.
