Nature of Incident: Camarillo recognizes two civilians as their Volunteers of the Year
Report Number: N/A
Location: Camarillo City Council Chambers
Date & Time: 04/23/2015 / 1400
Unit(s) Responsible: Camarillo Police Department’s Community Resource Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence
(P) James “Jim” Clegg Camarillo
(P) Josette Kreeger Camarillo
Narrative:
During recent ceremonies, the Pleasant Valley Lion’s Club and Camarillo City Council, ceremoniously recognized Camarillo Citizen Patrol (CCP) member Jim Clegg and Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) member Josette Kreeger, for being awarded the 2014 Volunteer of the year, for their respective groups.
On Tuesday, March 24, 2015, the Pleasant Valley Lion’s Club hosted a dinner and awards ceremony. Camarillo Police Chief, Commander Monica McGrath and Captain Cory Rubright presented Jim and Josette with certificates of recognition at the dinner and ceremony held in their honor. Jim and Josette have also had their names added to the commemorative plaque that is on display in the lobby of the police station.
Jim was also recognized at the Camarillo City Council meeting, held on Wednesday, April 8. Mayor Bill Little presented Jim with a certificate of recognition from the city of Camarillo and Commander McGrath provided a brief biography of Jim’s duties and accomplishments with the CCP, as well as personal achievements.
During the Camarillo City Council meeting on Wednesday, April 22, Josette was awarded a certificate of recognition from Mayor Bill Little and Commander McGrath. Commander McGrath shared with the City Council and staff Josette’s endeavors with DART, as well as several personal and professional achievements.
The Camarillo Citizen Patrol Program is a viable, community based crime prevention program exercising pro-active law enforcement principles. Participants in the program may be utilized to enhance crime prevention services and community awareness of crime prevention techniques available through the Camarillo Police Department. Citizen Patrol members frequently assist uniformed patrol deputies with daily patrols within the city of Camarillo and traffic control during community-based activities, vehicle collisions, child and adult ID card distribution, and vacation house checks.
The city of Camarillo and local leaders recognized the importance of having a citizen’s response group that could be activated to assist emergency service workers in the event of disaster or large-scale emergency. In March of 1990, by City Council resolution, the Camarillo Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) was formed. The purpose of DART is to respond in support of the city of Camarillo and the County of Ventura, under the direction of local law enforcement, in times of general need, emergency, and declared disaster.
Both volunteer groups are actively seeking new applicants. Potential members must be an adult 21 years of age or more, and a resident of the city of Camarillo or its outlying unincorporated areas. Potential members must be in good health, sound character, and possess a valid California Driver's License. Members are expected to abide by the law enforcement code of ethics, whereby one of the fundamentals is to serve the community and help safeguard lives and property. Potential members must be able to read, write, and speak English fluently enough to communicate clearly with members of the public and with law enforcement officers through the use of portable radios as utilized in the program.
If you are interested in volunteering with either the Citizen Patrol or Disaster Assistance Response Team, you may contact the Camarillo Police Department’s Community Resource Officer, SST II Todd Eskridge at (805) 388-5129, for further details and an application.
Prepared by: SST II Todd Eskridge
News Release Date: 04/23/2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: SST II Todd Eskridge, (805)388-5129 or [email protected]
Approved by: Captain Cory Rubright
