GV SAV, Sahuarita ‘VIPS’ to welcome new graduates

The public is invited to a graduation ceremony next week honoring the newest class of Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers.

The ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 19, at the Desert Hills Center, 2890 S. Camino del Sol, in Green Valley.

Sixteen Green Valley residents have completed their 10-week Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteer training course and will be sworn in as SAV volunteers. They include: Cene Backus, Irene Ballard, Chriss Bell, Gary Eshelman, Doyal Fausey, Robyn Gentry, Joe Gunson, Frank Hagberg, Debby Lundell, Linda Lundy, Pat Murphy, Earl Rogalla, Tom Scarlett, Toni Simon, Jerry Skaggs and Nancy Smith.

Four Sahuarita residents — John McMorris, Jim Reynolds, Bob Pascular and Danny Taylor — also completed required training courses and will be sworn in as Sahuarita Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS).

Training in the Academy covers various aspects of crime prevention as well as instruction in directing traffic, taking routine police calls, writing reports and learning a new language for communication using police radios.

To become an official volunteer of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and Sahuarita Police Department, members will take an oath of office administered by a member of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

The SAV unit of Green Valley has 120 members, who, in addition to assisting the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, provide daily patrols of the Green Valley area and participate in many other crime-prevention activities, such as the neighborhood watch program. Currently there are approximately 28 VIPS who assist the Sahuarita Police Department in various areas.

Anyone interested in participating in the next Academy should contact the Green Valley SAV at 351-6744 to pick up an application, or speak with one of the present volunteers at 601 N. La Canada, Green Valley.

Anyone interested in joining VIPS should call 344-7000 or visit 315 W. Sahuarita Center Dr., Sahuarita.

jrichardson@gvnews.com | 547-9726