Dayton's Neighborhood Assistance Officer program seeks volunteers

The following story is from the Dayton Daily News, on Sunday, 03/25/2007. I feel that this is an important program and could be very beneficial to our neighborhood. The contact info is included in the article.

Dayton's Neighborhood Assistance Officer program seeks volunteers

By Kelli Wynn
Staff Writer
Sunday, March 25, 2007

DAYTON — If you want to go beyond attending a meeting to show that you care about your neighborhood, then you may want to consider becoming a Dayton Police Neighborhood Assistance Officer.

The purpose of the program is to have Dayton residents volunteer to act as a support unit for the police department. NAO volunteers are trained to handle duties such as traffic control at emergency scenes, special events, nonenforcement calls, missing person searches and noise complaints. They also patrol at least four hours a week.
"It's a unique opportunity to be a little pro-active in your neighborhoods," said Cindy August, NAO supervisor. "You're doing something more than attending a meeting. You're out patrolling your neighborhood."

Starting April 1, current Dayton Police NAO volunteers will work 100 days to get 100 applications from Dayton residents. NAO volunteers will visit numerous neighborhood meetings, events and churches while performing regular duties to accomplish recruiting goals. This recruiting effort is in conjunction with National Volunteer Month.

NAO volunteers will be present during the Dayton Dragons' opening-day fireworks and Tax Day at the main post office on East Fifth Street.

Right now, the program currently has 20 volunteers. This is a great decrease compared to the late 1970s and early 1980s when the program had about 80 volunteers. August said she doesn't know exactly why the numbers have dropped, but thinks the decrease may have something to do with people being busier than in the past. "People don't know their neighbors and they don't get outside their own little world," she said.

For more information on the NAO program, contact Cindy August at (937) 333-1350.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2414 or kwynn@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Criteria for being an NAO

Must be at least 21 years old

Must live in the city of Dayton

No felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving a weapon or violence

Must possess a valid Ohio driver's license

Must have automobile insurance

Must be people-oriented

Ability to attend five weeks of training from 7 to 10 p.m.