BUCKHANNON — The Buckhannon Police Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) program will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a meet-and-greet and membership drive.
We invite the community and the media to join us!
- WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- WHERE: Buckhannon Public Safety Complex, 24 South Florida St, Buckhannon, WV
Informational displays will be set up in the training room, and visitors will have the opportunity to meet and talk to current VIPS members and learn about the training and services provided by the organization.
At 7 p.m. that evening, Buckhannon City Police Chief Matt Gregory and Lieutenant Doug Loudin will recognize the two remaining active founding members, VIPS Coordinator Steve Wykoff and VIPS Volunteer David Rowan.
In 2014, Chief Matt Gregory envisioned a volunteer group within the city police department that could assist officers with public relations. Chief Gregory held several discussions with Steve Wykoff, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) coordinator at the time.
Shortly after those brainstorming sessions, the VIPS program was born. A grant was applied for and received, and initial uniforms and equipment were acquired. The inaugural meeting was held on October 22, 2014, with the five original members. Two of those five founding members are still active with VIPS today (David Rowan and Steve Wykoff).
Over the course of the past ten years, the role of VIPS has changed and increased well beyond the initial vision. VIPS continues to assist with public relations and outreach and now provides assistance to the officers with traffic and crowd management, education and presentations, emergency response, and general security.
We currently have 11 active members, and had over 50 community members wear the VIPS uniform during the past decade. Those members have donated almost 18,000 volunteer hours during the same time period.
The VIPS program is still running strong, and we look forward to many more years of service to the City of Buckhannon and its residents and visitors.
If you are interested in learning more about the Buckhannon VIPS program, email vips@buckhannonpolice.com or call VIPS Coordinator Steve Wykoff at 304-838-3443.
