Instituted in 1994, the Citizens Assisting Police (CAP’s) volunteer program now exceeds 50 members - all of whom are Community Police Academy graduates. Other police department volunteers provide backup and/or emergency communications for the police department via the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES) program.CAP’s and RACES volunteers are often called in time of emergencies, ranging from traffic control at major traffic accident scenes to providing additional service during power blackouts. The volunteers also have been involved with the Neighborhood Improvement Task Force since its inception and play a key role in its continual success.
The CAPS personnel also initiated the “Friendly Visitor Program” wherein they conduct home visitations to the elderly or ill, who may live alone. This program has been well received within the Community.
The CAP’s and RACES members assist the police department in several other ways by helping out with: special events, vacation home watch, parades, Parks and Recreation functions, driver’s license checkpoints, evidence searches, processing citations and necessary documents, Silverado Days, and at the police department’s annual Open House.
Each year, CAP’s and RACES members volunteer over 12,000 hours of time to the police department and the Buena Park community. Their unselfish contribution over the years is greatly appreciated and has made the CAP’s and RACES programs integral components of the Buena Park Police Department.