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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 15, 2006 Central Point police plan new programs Explorer, volunteer programs to enhance community involvement By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune CENTRAL POINT — Police Chief Jon Zeliff hopes to launch two new programs by summer that will increase interaction between his department and the community. The first is an Explorer Post that will introduce Crater High School students to a career in law enforcement. The second is a Volunteers in Police Service program designed to provide citizen support for the department. Chartered with the Boy Scouts of America, the Explorer Post program will provide students with similar training to an officer’s — only without the gun. The first official meeting of the police Explorers will take place Tuesday. Advertisement "They’ll receive training, help out during special events, do ride-alongs � basically get a better feel for the profession before they actually go into college," Zeliff said. Zeliff said the Explorer program will help local police make a better connection with teens in the community. "It’s been proven that the closer our relationship is with the community, the more successful we’re ultimately going to be," Zeliff said. "Every good police department is a reflection of their community." Zeliff said Central Point’s Volunteers in Police Service program will be closely aligned with the national group and will offer citizens a chance to become more involved in their police department. Volunteers will help with administrative and clerical support, neighborhood watch, handicap-parking enforcement, vacation house checks, police vehicle maintenance and support for Central Point’s two-dozen annual events. Those interested may attend a community luncheon planned from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 15 in the City Council Chambers. "It’s a great way of involving the community more in law enforcement," Zeliff says. "Sir Robert Peel’s principles of policing say that people are the police and the police are the people. The more we can do to improve that relationship, the better the job we can do." City Administrator Phil Messina said Zeliff, who came to Central Point in July 2004, has a progressive, hands-on approach to working with citizens. "One thing about the chief, he’s very big on the community being involved in local law enforcement," Messina said. As the city grows, Messina said, citizen involvement will help the police department provide quality service and give the city’s youth a connection to their community. "If we can get things like this going now, and keep them going as we grow and make them part of our culture, we’ll always be energetic and innovate and responsive," Messina said. On the Web, see http://www.policevolunteers.org or www.cp-pd.com . Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. E-mail her at buffypollock @juno.com. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s