Patrol recruits sought for Poway, 4S Ranch

By Barbara Norton

The sheriff’s Senior Volunteer Patrol, which serves Poway and 4S Ranch, is looking for new members. The volunteers assist sheriff’s deputies by handling non-confrontational situations and routine patrols and services so deputies are available for more serious calls.

The Poway unit, which has been in service since 1994, needs to fill vacancies. With the growth of 4S Ranch, the Poway SVP is forming a new 4S Ranch SVP at their substation to support increased law enforcement in that area.

“The 4S SVP will be an essential part of our law enforcement services, and in addition to supporting our deputies, will provide much needed public visibility,” said Sgt. Matt Glisson of the 4S Ranch substation.

Two of the key services SVP provides are the sheriff’s You Are Not Alone (YANA) program, which conducts periodic phone calls and visits to check on the welfare of homebound individuals, and vacation checks. They also direct traffic at accident scenes, enforce disabled parking and assist deputies during emergency situations.

SVP volunteers must be U.S. citizens over 50 years old in good physical health, have a valid California driver’s license, pass a background check and graduate from a two-week SVP academy. The next academy begins May 13, with another beginning Sept. 30. Applications must be received at least one month before the start of the academy in order to complete the background checks.

For more information, call Pete Babich, Poway SVP administrator, at 858-232-8000. Poway SVP members will also have a booth at the Poway Spring Family Festival Sunday, April 7 along Midland Road.