SHERIFF_AnnualReport_8.5x11_041521_WEB

VOLUNTEER
PATROL
2020 WAS A
YEAR UNLIKE
ANY OTHER
for the Sheriff’s Office, and for our
Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteer Patrol
(SAVP) Program. Due to the COVID-19
pandemic, SAVP operations were
immediately suspended on March 15,
and a few days later it was determined
that the 2020 SAVP Academy for new
members would be postponed indefinitely.
On July 7 after strict protocols
were put in place regarding health
checks, use of PPE, reporting
symptoms, sanitizing work environments,
and social distancing, the
program was approved to resume
some volunteer duties. Minimum
volunteer hours remained waived
during this time and those who fell in
the at-risk category or did not feel
comfortable were discouraged from
returning to volunteer. Each station
independently evaluated the safety for
the return to patrol and worked with
volunteers to keep staff and SAVP
members healthy. Despite these strict
protocols the county continued to see a
rise in cases, so in November all SAVP
operations were again suspended,
and continued to be through the end
of the year.
Despite the SAVP program being
operational for less than half the year,
volunteers still provided invaluable
service to the community in 2020.
Volunteers out of North Station alone
drove 5,205 miles throughout the year,
providing eyes and ears to Sheriff’s
deputies, and working to deter crime
through their presence on the road.
One of our graffiti abatement SAVP
members out of Coast Station spent
over 65 hours removing or covering
graffiti in the county, and in the first
two months of the year alone our
South Station volunteers logged 237
hours. Additionally, volunteers out of
all three stations assisted with a drivethru
flu clinic in October put on by San
Luis Obispo Emergency Operations
Center by providing traffic control.
ALTHOUGH IT LOOKED A
BIT DIFFERENT, OUR
VOLUNTEERS TOOK
CARE OF THEMSELVES,
THE COMMUNITY, AND
EACH OTHER THIS
YEAR. WE ARE PROUD
OF THE SELFLESS SAVP
MEMBERS HERE AT THE
SHERIFF’S OFFICE, AND
WE ALL LOOK FORWARD
TO CONTINUED
OPPORTUNITIES TO
SERVE IN 2021.
LEAD THE WAY ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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