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Mary Ann Dahl
STARS Coordinator |
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This is an award winning nationally recognized program. Former
S.T.A.R.S. Coordinator Weldon Burson has
traveled to 33 states and 4 foreign countries to assist them in setting up
their own version of S.T.A.R.S. Former Sheriff Baxter Dunn created the concept of
a volunteer group to assist patrol deputies with some of the mundane jobs
that the public wanted but the department could not provide. The program
was put together at no cost to the taxpayers and was approved by the Board
of Supervisors August 6, 1991. The program started with a budget of
$25,000 dollars and 200 volunteers. Currently, 375 volunteers are in the
program and the operating budget is over $100,000 dollars. All funds are
raised through fundraisers and donations. Volunteers, ages range from 50
to 92 years old, average 8250 hours a
year. Approximately 55% are women and 45% are men. More than 850 people
have participated in the program since its inception. All volunteers are required to attend a 40-hour in house
training program. Currently there are 87 different jobs to volunteer for. These well trained seniors provide additional
'eyes and ears' to Patrol Division and call for deputies to respond to any
observed criminal activity. Their mere presence in the community
(especially around schools) provides a deterrent by taking away the
opportunity for the criminal to commit a crime unobserved.
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The below
listed services are provided by S.T.A.R.S. Any Department Personnel may request
any of these services by contacting the S.T.A.R.S. coordinator, Mary Ann Dahl
482-3303 or through Dispatch. These services may also be provided to other
Agencies, such as Police Departments, FBI, ABC, Cracnet, DEA and Rural Fire
Departments. This is only a partial list of the services we are capable of
providing. If you see a need and we don't already do that, ask and we will try
to comply with your request.
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MOBILE LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER (MLEC)
Several 5 member teams. Each team in on call for a 7 day period. Response time of 45 minutes
from call to enroute. Last year 125 callouts.
VACATION CHECKS
Over 600,000 checks in
the last ten years. No burglaries at the places that have been checked.
ROUTINE PATROL
Ten units assigned to
various areas of the county. Last year, 276,000 miles logged within San
Joaquin County.
Conduct Patrol of Unincorporated
Areas
Conduct Vacation Checks
Conduct You are not Alone (YANA)
House Checks
Conduct School Checks (school
grounds, surrounding area, check for graffiti,
for children out of class)
Conduct Patrol of City of Lathrop
(Contract)
Assist Deputies, Fire Departments,
CHP (except on freeways) with Traffic Control.
Assist SWAT Operations with
secondary perimeter
Assist Helicopter landings by
securing landing zone.
Assist in Search for lost persons
Assist in Search for lost children
Assist in Search for Evidence in
large areas
Transport Evidence (Any where any
time)
Transport Dignitaries
Transport Children (At request of
Deputies)
Transport Food, Water and Supplies
to fixed posts of Sheriff, CHP, and Fire Dept. or
larger groups of Volunteers
Transport Found Property
Transport Emergency
Interdepartmental Mail
Transport Victims
Assist Sheriff's Boat Patrols
(Marine traffic control, Boating Safety, Hand out
Safety materials)
Look for Stolen Vehicles (10851's)
Saturation Patrol areas with Abatement problems, recent Police
reports and Neighborhood Watch concerns
LOST CHILDREN
S.T.A.R.S. can turn
out more than 100 volunteers to search within an hour.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Parades
Neighborhood Watch Presentations
Fingerprinting service (children)
Coordinate Department Participation in Special
Events (Booths,Recruiting,Information Centers,Traffic Direction)
PERSONNEL
Staff Mobile Law Enforcement Center (MLEC)
Staff Bus Drivers for Alternate Work Program (AWP)
Staff support for Abatement
Staff support department wide for administrative
assistance
Staff Sheriff's Service Centers (Assist Deputies
in taking reports, provide information to the public, arrange meetings
between Deputies and complainants/victims.)
S.T.A.R.S. are always looking for people interested in joining our
organization. If you would like to volunteer your time in this rewarding
program, you can do so by contacting:
Mary Ann Dahl (209)
482-3303 Email: mdahl@sjgov.org
Uniform cost is $150.00
Classes are held year round.
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