The Devonshire Community Police Station is very proud to recognize Mr. Wendell Durrant for his exceptional and invaluable contributions to the community as current president of the Devonshire Volunteer Surveillance Team (VST). This highly successful volunteer program has been in existence since 1992 and is comprised of dedicated community members who reside within the area serviced by the Devonshire Station, and who wish to assist the police in the detection and eradication of criminal activity in their own neighborhoods. Deployed in only non-hazardous situations as observers, VST members work only under the watchful supervision of designated police officers that carefully direct their activities and ensure for their personal safety. This translates into countless hours of patiently keeping a watchful eye on those areas frequently targeted with graffiti, street sales of narcotics, parking areas plagued with break-ins and reducing the number of students who find themselves truant.

Mr. Durrant, a local Chatsworth resident and extremely active community member, has been associated with the VST since its inception and has held a number of important positions on its’ Board of Directors. Under his strong and dedicated leadership as president for the last four years, the Devonshire VST has proven to be an extremely valuable resource to assist in the resolution of identified crime patterns. Deployed often under adverse conditions and at great personal sacrifice, each member clearly recognized the significant role they play in improving the quality of life for countless other fellow community residents. As a direct result of the membership’s unselfish commitment, successful methods and outstanding reputation, the Devonshire VST has been the recipient of numerous local and State awards and is often touted as a model community policing program that many other jurisdictions are now attempting to emulate.

Thanks in great part to Mr. Durrant’s direction and dedication, VST members have volunteered in excess of 29,620 hours of service to their community thereby, saving the City approximately $1,125, 560.00 in officer salaries and benefits. During the calendar year of 1999 alone, the Devonshire VST was directly responsible for 3,100 volunteer hours leading to in excess of 900 arrests.