Sheriff’s Office VIP’s looking for volunteers

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is looking for people to help with its Volunteers in Policing program.

The Sheriff’s VIP’s perform civilian duties such as VIN checks, serving nonconfrontational civil papers, doing property watches and volunteering during special events.

“We help the Sheriff’s Office because they’re understaffed and overworked,” said Gertrude Dubanski, the field services officer for Fernley.

No law enforcement experience is necessary, but applicants must pass a background check.

The VIPs perform duties around the county, but Dubanski said volunteers in Fernley are specifically needed, because a high percentage of the program’s work is in Fernley, but currently there are not enough volunteers in Fernley, so VIPs from Dayton typically have to drive across the county.

Most of the work involving VIN checks and serving papers is done from 8 a.m. to noon on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“It’s easier if a person is retired, but they don’t have to be,” Dubanski said.

She said most volunteers typically work two to four shifts per month.

Volunteers are provided shirts, baseball caps and jackets, and are asked to wear khaki pants with sturdy black shoes and a belt. Volunteers work in teams of two for safety and drive Sheriff’s Office auxiliary vehicles to perform their duties. VIPs are not allowed to carry weapons, but do carry phones and handheld radios.

“We would like people who communicate well because we represent the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Lyon County,” Dubanski said. “We are definitely helping the sheriff’s and the citizens of Lyon County at the same time so I find it to be a fun job and quite fulfilling.”

Anyone interested can apply at the Fernley substation.