Devonshire Community Programs

The Devonshire Area Police Station is very proud of its many community programs. We find that these programs are a great way to keep in touch with the entire community, which in turn allows us to better serve those who work and/or live here. Below are descriptions of several of our community programs. New listings and updated information will be added regularly, so be sure to visit this site often. We look forward to seeing more of you benefiting from these activities.

CEMP (California Emergency Mobile Patrol)
C-PAB (Community Police Advisory Board)
CADETS (Law Enforcement Cadets)
DEVONSHIRE LEADERSHIP UNIT
PALS (Police Activity League Supporters)
SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire)
VBP (Volunteer Bike Patrol)
VCCRR (Valley Community Cavalry Rough Riders)
VCP (Volunteer Community Patrol)
VST (Volunteer Surveillance Team)

CEMP (California Emergency Mobile Patrol)

The California Emergency Mobile Patrol is an all-volunteer non-profit team, based at the Devonshire Division station. Although based at LAPD, CEMP is not a government agency and is not funded or financially assisted by any city or county department. The group relies solely on public donation and fund-raising efforts.

CEMP provides emergency response services for the City of Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments and the Park Rangers. The team responds throughout the City of Los Angeles and neighboring communities such as the City of San Fernando. Incorporated in 1962, CEMP is also a member of the National Association for Search and Rescue.

CEMP Assignments

Primarily, CEMP is trained and ready for Search & Rescue missions to assist in Critical Missing cases such as elderly patients, children and mentally challenged patients. CEMP also responds to Command Post missions to provide operations and lights on a crime or other active scene. The team also is instrumental in area evacuations, body recovery, evidence searches, eyes and ears details and stand-by medical operations for community events.
CEMP also has its own K9 rescue team on board. The handlers and their partners constantly train – honing their skills for area searches. The dogs (and handlers) are a valuable asset, training in various terrain and weather for countless different scenarios.

Becoming a Member

CEMP accepts applications for new applicants every month. The team holds an orientation meeting every last Monday of the month at the Devonshire station (1900). After an applicant explores the team, he or she then applies to be team member. A review board is setup and the recruit is then interviewed and either accepted as an applicant or asked to re-submit their application. An applicant goes through a three-month hands-on training program, then enters a three-month probation period. After that period, the applicant becomes a full-time member.

For more information on CEMP, visit the team website at http://www.cemp.org

CPAB

CPAB stands for the Community Police Advisory Board, and was put in place to form a community liaison partnership between the Los Angeles Police Department and the citizens of the city it serves and protects. Each of the 21 geographic areas in the Los Angeles Police Department has a CPAB at their respective division. The purpose of each area CPAB is to provide and exchange informational advice with the Area Commanding Officer regarding crime trends and quality of life issues in each respective community.

The Area Commanding Officer provides updates, explanations and information to the CPAB regarding all quality of life issues in their respective area, along with any other pertinent items Citywide or from other jurisdictions that would have an effect on our community. Each CPAB is chaired by the Area Commanding Officer, and co-chaired by a selected board member of the respective CPAB. The members of the CPAB are also selected and approved by the Area Commanding Officer; with recommendations from CPAB board members, department personnel and/or community stakeholders. The members that comprise the Devonshire Area CPAB consist of business, civic, educational and professional stakeholders of the community. Each and every CPAB throughout Los Angeles have regularly scheduled meetings with a defined agenda and transcribed minutes taken. The Devonshire Area CPAB meets monthly.

Aside from reporting on the status of our regular agenda items at each meeting, our Board takes on major items of concern that are currently at issue or feel they will come to light in the near future. CPAB members are expected to act as a conduit between the Department and the community. It is not a “booster club” and members are encouraged to address community concerns.

The Devonshire Area CPAB, along with all department wide CPABs, are overseen and directed by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Office of Operations and are required to have each of its respective Board Co-Chairs give an annual presentation to the Los Angeles Police Commission regarding concerns and accomplishments throughout the year. The Devonshire Area CPAB is here to serve you and to give you a better voice in the policing of your community.

CADETS

The Cadet Program is designed to offer youth an opportunity to develop skills that will help them throughout their lives, while working with one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the country. The Program is offered at each of the 21 community police stations across the city, as well as at seven specialized divisions.

Cadets are as diverse as the city they represent. Each of them comes from different backgrounds and have different goals and paths that they are following to get there. However, what remains the same in all Cadets is their desire to achieve excellence within their own lives and to then leverage those achievements to positively impact the community where they live.

Cadets volunteer in several different ways for the police department, including special community events, charity assistance, working in stations, and other tasks. The Cadet program has posts at all of the LAPD’s 21 regional divisions, South and Central Traffic Divisions, LAPD Headquarters, and a post in partnership with the YMCA (Gateway). The University of Southern California and Los Angeles Airport Police both host affiliated Cadet posts as well, and as of 2020 there were 2,000 Cadets.

Requirements:

In order to join the Cadet program a person must be between the ages of 13 and 17, maintain a 2.5 grade point average, have no serious criminal record, obtain a medical examination, and complete the cadet academy.
For further information please contact Officer Jeffrey Johnson at 35127@lapd.online

Devonshire Leadership Unit

The mission of the Devonshire Leadership Unit is to assist the Devonshire Area with community events, work with area detectives, and assist the community relations office.

Duties include:

•Ride-alongs
•Basic report taking
•Community events
•Assist at area youth center
•Mentor Cadets
•Assist areas community relations office

The Leadership Unit is made up off former LAPD Devonshire Cadets that have aged out of the cadet program but wish to remain connected with the community and department.

Requirements of the leadership program are

•Be a former LAPD Devonshire Cadet.
•Left the program in good standing.
•Be recommended by a Youth Services Officer.
•18-23 years of age.
•Complete the departments volunteer application.
•Be approved the Area Commanding Officer.

For further information please contact Officer Jeffrey Johnson at 35127@lapd.online

PALS (Police Activity League Supporters)

PALS was founded in 1973 and offers a wide variety of programs that builds character by offering activities that foster trust and understanding between young people, the LAPD and the community. It is staffed by a diverse group of LAPD sworn officers, civilian employees, and community volunteers. Our Youth Center in Northridge is open weekdays from 1-6 PM.

PALS Provides specific programming for youths to engage in life-skills and character-building activities, including: physical fitness, soccer, basketball, martial arts, arts & crafts, animal care, farming, agriculture, skateboarding, music classes, developing study habits, homework help, motor-cross, cooking, and automotive and mechanical work. We also provide food give-aways including fresh farm-to-table goods and groceries, and other necessities from local food banks. Activities also include a variety of field trips for our youth.

SOLID (Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire)

The Los Angeles Police Department, Devonshire Area and its officers are committed to reducing crime in our community and improving quality of life issues that fester within our communities. Unfortunately, there are many times when the city cannot provide the equipment necessary to achieve these goals. In January of 1993, the Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire (SOLID) was founded to bridge the gap and assist in filling these equipment needs. SOLID has purchased computers, fax machines, video equipment, vehicles, exercise equipment and much more to help Devonshire Area provide a better level of service to the community.

SOLID is a non-profit organization with a twelve-member board of directors, including a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary. Each of these positions is filled annually by an election.
If you have any further questions in regard to SOLID or would like to become a member, please contact visit https://www.soliddevonshire.org/.

VBP (Volunteer Bike Patrol)

The Volunteer Bike Patrol team helps LAPD Devonshire with assistance on patrolling our community and keeping our neighborhoods safe. The mission of the VBP is to develop and maintain an effective volunteer staff, which offers an additional dimension of crime prevention efforts to the Community. VBP provides a critical function with non-enforcement services patrolling residential and commercial areas of the Community, while conducting themselves with the highest ethical and moral standards. Patrol members are trained in bike safety, maintenance, and laws. Uniforms are provided. Applicants must be in good health, pass a background check, interview, and bike inspection.

For further information or an application, please send your contact information and any questions to  31445@lapd.online (Ginger Harrison).

VCCRR (Valley Community Cavalry Rough Riders)

The Valley Community Cavalry Rough Riders Team functions in coordination with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). This is a volunteer mounted horse unit with formal designated uniform attire. The VCCRR Team encompasses the following:

•Safety, equine horsemanship and development of observational skills, map reading, and radio communication skills with a mandated test for the horse and rider to pass separately to obtain certification.

•Emphasis on safety, professionalism, team building, on-going training and risk management.

•An essential need for support and skills other than horsemanship skills, including ground support during critical interaction with the children and horses, and field deployment with the community, with a focus on enhancement of public trust and “Good Will.”

•A goal of increasing a true partnership and trust between police and members of the public.

•Mission to provide safety, high visibility, education and prevention of criminal and nuisance activity within the local community.

•Patrol of local trails and wash areas, parks, local business and mall parking lots for high visibility, theft observation presence, education, Color Guard presentation and parades, emergency horse evacuations and search and rescue of missing persons.

•The VCCRR members are mandated not to interfere with, engage, or confront any criminal activity. The teams are accompanied by sworn personnel.

•Extensive preparation and planning to include a formal plan, briefing and debriefing for each training and field deployment event.

•Each member is provided a VCCRR Manual, and they are responsible to be familiar with LAPD and VCCRR policies and procedures.

The VCCRR truly “makes a difference within the local community” and is seeking new members for both horsemanship skills as well as ground support, planning, event and meeting preparation, organizational and email communication skills in order for the team to improve the quality of life within the local community.

VCP (Volunteer Community Patrol)

The main mission of the Volunteer Community Patrol (VCP) is to reduce the number of residential and commercial burglaries within the Devonshire patrol area. Members patrol in marked cars to provide extra eyes on our neighborhoods, calling in officers if needed. The program has recently expanded its hours to include evenings and early mornings, when thefts are occurring from cars. They have been called in to help establish perimeters, coordinate searches with helicopters, provide traffic control at accidents, watch for mail and package thieves, search for lost children, perform radar speed reporting, and assist in a wide variety of other incidents. Each ride is different. You may also have seen the VCP helping with crowd control at parades, street fairs, and other community events. The department provides training on the specialized skills needed on patrol and radio use and supplies uniforms. VCP began as a pilot program in Devonshire in 2016 and has now been expanded across the city.

Applicants must pass a background check and interview. Members are expected to work a minimum of two (2) four-hour shifts per month to maintain proficiency. Training is provided in a classroom setting and in the field on department policies and procedures, radio usage, patrol techniques, traffic control, radar usage, and other associated skills.

For further information or an application, please send your contact information and any questions to  31445@lapd.online (Ginger Harrison).

VST (Volunteer Surveillance Team)

What is the Volunteer Surveillance Team (VST)?

VST is a group of community volunteers living in the LAPD Devonshire Area that are specially trained and supervised by LAPD officers to observe and report criminal activity.

How does a surveillance detail operate?

When a crime pattern is identified, the LAPD officers in charge plan how a surveillance detail would be safely and effectively conducted. Volunteers are assembled at a roll call and assigned predesignated observation posts, typically located in cars, vans, buildings or rooftops. The VST members who observe criminal activity in the surveillance area report this via police radio to patrol officers assigned to the surveillance detail. These officers respond to the call, stop and question the individual(s) suspected of the criminal activity and make an arrest, if warranted.

What type of criminal activity is the VST assigned to observe?

Any reoccurring criminal activity in a specific area such as theft from motor vehicles, grand theft auto, lewd conduct, vandalism, tagging, sale of alcohol to underage persons and burglary.

What type of training do the volunteers get?

Initially, new members are provided with a safety orientation and then accompany experienced VST members on several surveillance details to get first-hand experience. A formal classroom session is conducted on observation skills, radio procedures and protocol, equipment needed, safety procedures, etc. Field training follows with the observation of simulated criminal activities. New VST members are then assigned to work surveillance details with experienced team leaders where their surveillance and radio broadcast skills are further developed.

Do VST members get involved with criminal suspects or arrest?

Absolutely NOT! VST members when assigned to a surveillance post are expected to be invisible! They are expected to blend into the background and not be observed. Their job is to report their observations to awaiting officers who will evaluate and then detain those involved.

How many active VST volunteers are there and what have they accomplished?

Presently, there are 50-55 active members. Since 1992, VST has donated more than 29,000 hours of surveillance time and saved the ity in excess of $1.1 million in police officer salaries. The VST has assisted the LAPD in the apprehension of rapists, graffiti taggers, drug dealers and drug purchasers, burglars, car thieves and truants. VST was first established in Devonshire and with the success of the program it has been expanded to other divisions.

Who are the VST?

VST is a mix of men and women, young adults and seniors, including those working in professional and blue-collar jobs as well as retirees, who possess a desire to improve their community and assist the LAPD.

What are the requirements to join VST?

Applicants for VST must be 18 years of age or older, a resident of the area served by the Devonshire Community Police Station, have a valid California Driver License or I.D., be in good physical condition, have good oral communication skills, submit to a background check and pass an oral interview.

What time demands will VST create?

One training meeting every other month – 2 hours on a weekday evening.  One five-hour training session once every 5-6 months on a Saturday from 8am to 1pm. As many surveillance details as you have time for. (One a week or twice a month). Two or three are scheduled per week (typically 3-5 hours in length).

Are volunteers permitted to carry weapons?

NO! VST members are not permitted to carry any type of weapon while participating in the program.

Is it safe being a VST member?

Since its inception in 1992, no VST member has ever been injured in training or on a surveillance detail. LAPD officers are just around the corner and constantly in touch with members for their safety.

Why become a VST member?

There is a need for residents to be involved in their community. Your participation shows support for the LAPD Devonshire Area officers. Your involvement will help reduce criminal activity and improve the quality of life in your own community. Assisting the LAPD is a personally rewarding experience.

How do I join?

To receive an application call 818-832-0992, leave your name, address and phone number, or write to  31445@lapd.online (Ginger Harrison). An application will be mailed to you. After you have received the application, submit it along with two letters of recommendation and mail them to:

VST-Devonshire Community Police Station
10250 Etiwanda Ave.
Northridge , CA 91325
Attn: VST Officer