The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office / Fillmore Police Station’s Volunteer Unit is a community-based crime prevention program exercising pro-active law enforcement principles. This program is composed of highly motivated volunteers in our community who desire to interact, serve and protect their community.

Our volunteers conduct a variety of assignments including but not limited to visibility patrols, assist with community-based activities such as parades, perform vacation house checks, conduct traffic control at collisions, help during local incidents and events, and other exciting duties. The contributions made by these trained volunteers have been an integral part of the support system needed to achieve our department’s law enforcement mission of providing public safety. Volunteers in Policing (VIP) members perform routine police related functions, allowing deputies to concentrate more on the duties that only sworn personnel can perform.

The Fillmore Police Volunteer Unit is a self-governing non-profit 501(c)(4) organization with a structure and the oversight of the Fillmore Police Administration Bureau. The Sheriff's Volunteer Unit was established in 1989 and has accomplished a wide variety of assignments since then. In the early days, the unit was assigned to the Crime Prevention Office. In 1991, the volunteer unit became uniformed, making them more visible to the public and today this unit has evolved with an abundance of community responsibilities and caretaking.

Our volunteers have designated VIP patrol vehicles. The volunteer force also performs various administration responsibilities to assist the public, along with a variety of other duties and special assignments. As articulated by the Fillmore Police Chief Eduardo Malagon, “The job for partnering is not just for the head of the law enforcement agency, it is for everyone in the organization and for those in the community who choose to participate. By partnering more with the public, officers, and community members alike will feel they are supported because of the relationships they form.”
Citizens who volunteer for this program will undergo a background investigation and be carefully screened as to judgment, maturity, and ability to work within a team concept. VIP members are not required to attend a citizen academy; however it is encouraged. Training includes report writing, first aid and C.P.R., traffic control, police radio usage, observations and reporting procedures, basic driving skills, and certain administrative duties.

The Fillmore Police Station Volunteer Unit welcomes serious-minded retired or semi-retired individuals to apply for duty as Sheriff Volunteers. Training is provided and everyone is welcome!

VIP Requirements

Selected applicants must contribute 4 hours per month and attend regular training meetings and patrol briefings. The uniform will be provided at no cost. If you are interested in joining a positive environment and making a difference in your community as a VIP, please contact the below listed recruiters at the below listed number.

Nature of Incident: Fillmore Police Department Volunteer Recruitment

Location: Fillmore Police Department

524 Sespe Avenue Fillmore, CA

Date & Time: March 24, 2025

Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Station ~ Volunteers in Policing (VIP)

Prepared by: Sergeant Will Hollowell

News Release Date: March 24, 2025

Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Will Hollowell or
VIP Coordinator Lisa Hammond
(805) 524-2234

Email: William.hollowell@ventura.org
Lisa.hammond@ventura.org

Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon