Our Internal VIPs help out at the Police Department in many ways. 
We have volunteers in our Data Management unit who handle filing, copying, purging and retreiving records and reports.
Other volunteers work with our Vehicle Services unit by shuttling Department vehicles to and from maintenance facilities around the city.
We also use volunteers in our Major Crimes, Property Crimes and Crime Scene Units in various roles.

Volunteers are also out in the Tyler community helping keep their "eyes and ears" open in the many City parks through the Citizens On Park Patrol (COPP) group. The COPP group keeps a lookout for damaged park equipment, graffiti and suspicious circumstances.  They call in what they observe and act as good witnesses for officers who respond to the call.
VIPs are reporting folks who run red lights, fail to yield and make unsafe lane changes as part of our Traffic Saftey Volunteer program. The vehicle information of an unsafe driver is recorded and forwarded to the department.  A letter bearing the Chief of Police's signature and the Traffic Safety Board Chairperson's signature is sent to the registered owner letting him or her know what was observed and when.
Many of our VIPs complete a specialized training session to become authorized to issue citations to the registered owner of vehicles found to be in violation of the accessible parking laws.

Volunteers with special skills such as computer and internet experience, former law enforcement officers and graphic artists also volunteer their talents for short term projects.
We also use volunteers to help with registering vehicles at Help End Auto Theft and VIN etching events, Auto Burglary Report Card inspections, handing out crime prevention literature, child identification kits and provide service at many special events held here at the Police Department.

There are always things to be done around the Police Department and we are looking for citizens wanting to be a part of making Tyler a better place to visit, live, do business and raise a family.
If you or someone you know would like to be a VIP, please contact Gary Lynch by phone at 903-531-1071 or e-mail at City Email.
To download an application, click here.