Volunteers Make All of the Difference

Now more than ever, the Sheriff’s Office wants and needs Santa Barbara County residents on our team who want to give back to their community and help the mission of public safety by becoming Sheriff’s Volunteers.

Sheriff’s Volunteer Team (S.V.T.) program participants are community members who have actively entered into a partnership with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.  S.V.T. members give freely of their time to help improve the effectiveness of law enforcement services throughout our neighborhoods by increasing patrol coverage, reducing Department workloads and strengthening the relationships and forms of communication between sworn and non-sworn personnel and the communities we serve.

Jobs vary with training but may include patrol in communities serviced by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. Duties may include:

An applicant must be at least 18 years old and a resident of Santa Barbara County. An S.V.T. applicant usually must first attend and successfully complete a Sheriff Citizens Academy. S.V.T. members will undergo a background check that includes submitting a birth certificate, proof of valid driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance, a medical waiver and an informal oral interview, usually with the local S.V.T. Advisor. Background checks will verify DMV status and criminal history. An S.V.T. applicant must then successfully complete any applicable training sessions as required by the S.V.T. Coordinator. S.V.T. members must also agree to volunteer a minimum of 14 hours per month, or as needed/reasonable and at the direction of their immediate S.V.T. advisor.  S.V.T.’s traditionally work in concert with a local (Sworn Deputy Sheriff) S.V.T. Advisor and usually in the area preferred by the volunteer.

Volunteers do not have peace officer status and may not carry a weapon at any time. They do not fall within the framework of the Civil Service System.