Results
The support shown by the Department, staff members and Field Officers have helped create a respectful acceptance of our COP volunteers. Initially, officers were apprehensive of the team, however, today, they routinely ask dispatch to send COP members to assist at their calls. Acceptance was achieved by two factors: First, support of a dedicated Department and second, by ongoing training given to the volunteers. Because of the success of our program, the cities of Dinuba, Clovis, Kerman, Chowchilla, Madera, and Placerville have contacted us for information on setting up their own programs. Agencies such as Madera County Sheriff’s Office and California State University, Fresno have implemented some of our procedures into their own units. We routinely receive inquiries from departments around the country about our program.