Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS)

VOLUNTEERS IN POLICE SERVICE

VIPS INFORMATION VIPS ANNUAL REPORTS VIPS MEMBERS

Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS)

The Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) program is a partnership between the Buckhannon City Police Department (BPD), the Upshur County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), the Upshur County Citizen Corps Council (CCC), and the Upshur County Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). The BPD recognized the opportunity to recruit local citizens to assist the police department during larger scale events. They approached the above organizations with the idea citizens could serve as an informational extension of the police department.

Members of the VIPS program are First Responders and have been trained in First Aid, CPR, basic search and rescue, basic firefighting, traffic and crowd management, and basic disaster response. VIPS members assist the police department with such tasks as public relations, search and rescue, disaster response, investigations, traffic management, and crowd assistance during community events. While VIPS members are performing these tasks, the BPD officers will be free to focus on more department specific tasks, such as criminal investigations and protecting our community. A complete list of member training can be found here.

If you are interested in having VIPS at your next event, please download and complete our Service Request Form located here.

If you would like more information about our VIPS program, click here to download a brochure.

If you are interested in becoming a member of VIPS, download the application here and return it to the police department.

Must be willing to help the community
 Must be willing to meet new poeple
 Must be interested in working closely with law enforcement
 Must be willing to wear a cool uniform and hat
 Must be over the age of 18
 Must be willing to undergo background check

VIPS Annual Reports

Listed below are links for the annual Buckhannon Police Department Crime Statistics Reports. You may click on the link to view the annual report from that year.

For reports prior to 2017, email the VIPS Coordinator

All reports are saved in PDF format. You will need a PDF viewer to read the reports. Adobe Reader is available here.

VIPS Annual Report

VIPS Annual Report

VIPS Annual Report

VIPS Annual Report

VIPS Annual Report

VIPS Annual Report

VIP Annual Report

VIPS Annual Report (10th Anniversary)

VIPS Annual Report

VIPS Members

Steve Wykoff

Coordinator
Steve Wykoff
350

Steve volunteers as the Coordinator for the VIPS program with the Buckhannon Police department when not working full-time as the Director of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Upshur County. Steve is one of two founding members still active with the organization.

Steve holds numerous certifications in the health and safety field, and in the emergency management field. He is also an instructor for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training and the only CERT instructor trainer in Upshur County. In addition to teaching various CERT classes, he is a certified Merit Badge Counselor for the Boys Scouts of America, and also teaches American Heart Association First Aid/CPR /AED courses, Stop The Bleed (STB) courses, and several FEMA courses.

Steve has been actively involved in the community and has volunteered with various other emergency service agencies such as the Upshur County Emergency Squad (EMT, 1992-2004), American Red Cross (1995-2006), Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (2008-2022), American Heart Association (2019 – current), as well as youth organizations such as Upshur County Little League (2008-2011) and Upshur County Flag Football (2008).

In October 2018, Steve was honored as a Jefferson Award recipient for his community service with the VIPS program. He was also named the WV Fusion Center Fusion Liaison Officer Rookie of the Year in 2023.

Assistant Coordinator

351

Allen Nash

Task Supervisor
Allen Nash
352

Allen moved to the Buckhannon area in 1996. He served as a coach and referee for several youth sports over nine years. After 32 years of service as a government employee, Allen retired in 2015.

Allen now stays busy by volunteering with the Upshur County Public Library, Buckhannon Nature Park & Learning Trail, American Red Cross Disaster Services, and VIPS.

In January 2021 he was selected by the City of Buckhannon as a recipient of the Buckhannon Exemplary Service Testimonial (BEST) Award for his dedication and service to our community. Recently Allen assisted the American Red Cross in the Hurricane Laura disaster response in Texas and Louisiana.

David Rowan

Volunteer
David Rowan
353

David is a lifelong resident of Upshur County and one of two founding members still active with VIPS. He joined VIPS to gain further insight into the inner workings of police department after becoming interested in law enforcement by watching crime drama television shows.

David is currently the only VIPS member to receive the Meritorious Service award from Chief of Police Matt Gregory. David was instrumental in identifying a wanted felon who fled to Buckhannon from out of state, which led to the felon’s arrest and subsequent extradition.

In his spare time, David continues to help the community by volunteering at the Parish House daily as he has since 2005. You will also see David walking around town with his dog, Foxie.

Vito Syski

Volunteer
Vito Syski
354

Vito is a second-generation immigrant to the United States and a naturalized American citizen. He is proud to have received a commendation for good citizenship from the governor of Maryland. Prior to moving to Buckhannon, he spent many years in the Indexing Section of the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD as a contractor until his contract ended in 2016, at which time he decided to retire and move to West Virginia with his wife.

Vito holds a B.A. degree in music from the University of Maryland, College Park. His volunteer activities reflect his desire to give back to the community for the privileges he has enjoyed in a free country. Vito regularly attends Create Buckhannon and Buckhannon City Council meetings, is active in his local church, and a pianist with the Buckhannon Chamber Orchestra.In Maryland, he volunteered with the Maryland Food Bank and was a choral singer in a Bethesda, MD church choir for 28 years.

One of his interests is crime prevention and investigation, and watching crime shows on TV. The VIPS program assists the Police Department, freeing them to focus on law enforcement. With his respect for the police force, and the goals of VIPS, the program was an immediate match.

Andi Cartier

Volunteer
Andi Cartier
355

Andi currently is a volunteer with Celebrate Recovery, WV Leadership Academy, VIPS and GRaCE Resource Center.

Andi has fond memories of spending time here in Buckhannon with her grandparents. Andi completed BA and MA degrees in Psychology, plus doctoral coursework. During college Andi served as a Big Sister, worked in the Admissions Office and as a Relief Houseparent. During graduate school Andi served as a Volunteer, Trainer and Speaker Bureau member for a Crisis Call Center and its Sexual Assault Response Team; she also worked as a Teaching Assistant, Summer Instructor and Mental Health Tech.

Andi then began a 27-year career with a private contractor for the USDOL Job Corps program, starting in Counseling and Student Services at Job Corps Centers in NV, WV, and MD. In 1994, Andi moved on to Corporate responsibilities for what became 15 Job Corps Centers operated by her employer.

In 2014, Andi moved here to be with her mom and see what was next. She found several forums for continuing to learn, grow and serve, including: Celebrate Recovery; WV Leadership Academy (WVLA- a peer-advocacy organization); AmeriCorps VISTA, with Opportunity House Inc; Mental Health First Aid-Adult certification; CCAR Recovery Coach Academy course completion; Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) as a Peer Specialist and Group Facilitator for the Drop-In Center; ‘Citizen Police Academy’ and basic ‘Community Emergency Response Team’ (CERT) training for Buckhannon’s Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS); grant application for rehab needed to open the Ruth House; City of Buckhannon’s Leadership Academy; and the Recovery/Life Coach and Recovery Coach Professional training programs through Greater Recovery and Community Empowerment (GRaCE).

Volunteer
Ashley Sipe
360

Bio coming soon

Volunteer
Your name here!
???

You could be the next VIPS member on our webpage!

For more information about VIPS, download a brochure.

When you're ready to join VIPS, fill out an application and send it in to us.

Buckhannon Police Patch

Buckhannon Public
Safety Complex
24 South Florida Street
Buckhannon WV 26201

Emergencies: Dial 9-1-1
Tip Line: (304) 473-1001
Phone: (304) 472-5723
Fax: (304) 473-7911

© Copyright 2022 Buckhannon Police Department - All Rights Reserved

‌

AI Website Maker