The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Citizens Patrol program is more informally known as V.O.I.C.E., which stands for Volunteer Observers Impacting Community Efforts. The main objective is to provide an additional observer presence in addition to the normal uniformed law enforcement patrols. In this way V.O.I.C.E. volunteers are essentially a type of mobile Neighborhood Watch.
About The Program
The V.O.I.C.E. Program seeks to accomplish those limited tasks that are not required to be performed by law enforcement personnel, such as:
V.O.I.C.E. patrols are conducted by a two volunteer team in one of the Sheriff’s Office’s marked V.O.I.C.E. Patrol Cars. Patrols are based on a published patrol plan that focuses on neighborhood presence.
Program Requirements
To become a V.O.I.C.E. volunteer a person must complete the 12 week Citizens Academy conducted twice a year by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, and then a 16-hour V.O.I.C.E. training program. This V.O.I.C.E. training program consists of two 4-hour classroom sessions followed by two 4-hour training patrols with a certified trainer.
Upon completion of the training the volunteer is certified to begin regular patrols and each volunteer is obligated to conduct a minimum of one 4-hour patrol each month.
Additional Information
For more information about the V.O.I.C.E. Program, or for assistance with signing up, please feel free to contact the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office I.M.P.A.C.T. Unit at (910) 253-2749.
