THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505180287
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JANELLE LA BOUVE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
The State Police Department can use some help.
``We are looking for local folks who can spare a couple of hours per week, the kind of folks who have a desire to serve the commonwealth,'' said Tammy Van Dame, public information officer for fifth division headquarters on South Military Highway.
``Office skills are especially prized,'' she said. ``Or if you can answer the telephone, turn a wrench and make minor repairs on state police vehicles, we need you.''
Workers with experience in dispatch, data processing and receiving and supply also are needed.
Volunteers are needed at division headquarters in Chesapeake and at the Virginia Beach office, 814 Kempsville Road.
``People with computer knowledge would be helpful,'' she said. ``If you have the desire but not necessarily the skills, we are willing to provide the training for you, too.
``The goal of the program is to offer innovative, exciting and challenging opportunities for those people who truly want to make a difference in their community,'' she said.
``We are really excited about it,'' she added. ``It is not hard to apply.''
A one-page service application can be obtained at state police headquarters.
``Because of the sensitive nature of law enforcement, we require that applicants undergo thorough background investigations,'' she said.
``If you take an active part in your community, you tend to hold the community in high regard and make it your own,'' Van Dame said. ``Therefore, you're more likely to treat it better. Virginia citizens are the owners of state government. So we providing an opportunity to interact directly with the Department of State Police.''
Four volunteers are already at work.
Wayne Carroll of Virginia Beach volunteers a full eight-hour shift once a week. He works as storekeeper in a warehouse where office supplies, automobile supply parts and books of tickets are stored.
Until he retired 1 1/2 years ago, Carroll had been a full-time State Police Department employee for eight years. The five previous years he worked as canteen manager St. Brides prison.
``It's something to do,'' Carroll said. ``It gets me out of the house. Boredom brought me to volunteer. I got tired of watching Sally Jessy Raphael beat up on males.''
Carroll, 61, is a Navy retiree who worked in public information in the military.
``This is very similar,'' Carroll said. ``As a volunteer, I work with a large group of people who are charged to protect and have an incredible responsibility to public safety.'' MEMO: More information is available by calling 424-6820. Applications are
available by mail or they can be obtained at the Department of State
Police, 1557 S. Military Highway.
by CNB