THE West Vancouver Police Department is looking for volunteers to provide the all-important human contact for victims in the wake of crime and trauma.
The Victims Services unit and police are hosting an information session on Thursday Nov. 29 to orient potential new volunteers to the program and its responsibilities.
"We're available 24/7 for police and emergency responders," said Bunny Brown, Victim Services program manager.
"If there's an incident where someone is experiencing any type of trauma, we're there to respond and provide emotional support and practical information at the time," she said. "Oftentimes, when someone is going through a particular trauma, they sometimes aren't thinking clearly about what needs to be done."
Most commonly, volunteers are asked to assist police when notifying the next of kin in cases of sudden death.
"It's being able to help someone get through what in a lot of cases is the most difficult time in their life . . . but oftentimes, it's just that immediate support that they need."
Volunteers accepted to the program will be provided with 60 hours of classroom and practical training in the new year.
Victim Services is in particular need of volunteers who can speak Mandarin and Korean, Brown said.
The information session runs Nov. 29 at 6: 30 p.m. at the West Vancouver Police Department. For more information, email Brown at [email protected].
