Welcome to the Gorham Volunteers in Police Service homepage
If The Gorham Volunteers in Police Service is a group of citizens devoted to the Town of Gorham and dedicated to community service. As of February 2024, we have 15 volunteers. The VIPS are a highly trained and motivated group of citizens who want to give back to the community. Utilizing two retired police cruisers, they assist the department's support services, patrol and detective divisions. They also assist the Gorham Fire/Police when needed. Their countless donated hours make Gorham a safer and better place to live, work and play. VIPS are not utilized to replace officers, or other paid positions, but rather they enhance the overall efficiency of the police department. Their efforts help reduce crime and increase the services that the police department can provide to the community. Listed below are the volunteer hours provided by VIPS since the organization was created: 2018: 2434 2019: 2162 2020: 1316 2021: 2128 2022: 1458 2023: 1647 VIPS provides cold and warm weather uniforms and safety equipment to it's volunteers. If you have any interest in becoming a VIPS volunteer, see the CONTACT page for details. , |
VIPS Responsibilities Include
Neighborhood Patrols
Traffic Surveys
Radar, Traffic, Hands Free & Seat Belt Monitoring
Seasonal and Vacation Property Checks
Wellness Checks
Traffic Control (Accidents, Crime Scenes, Fire,
5 & 10K Races, Parades & Special Events)
OUI Checkpoint Assistance
Yellow Dot Program
Child ID Fingerprinting/DNA Swab Kits
Impaired & Distracted Driving Simulation
Administrative Assistance
Assist community as needed
HISTORICAL VIPS ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
December 31, 2023, VIPS assisted Gorham Recreation Department with traffic control during the annual First Night fireworks show.
December 11, 2023, VIPS collected bins for the Gorham School Department's Backpack Program.
December 6, 2023, VIPS performed patrol duty in the village area during the Gorham school's early release day.
November 26, 2023, VIPS assisted Gorham Fire Police with traffic control during the annual Gorham Light Parade.
November 25, 2023, VIPS assisted with traffic control at the 25th Burn off the Turkey 5K.
November 17, 2023, VIPS assisted Officer Mark Sanborn in the Middle School cafeteria by serving Thanksgiving meals to students.
November 6, 2023, VIPS collected storage bins for the Gorham School Department's Backpack Program.
October 28, 2023, VIPS assisted the police department with the annual drug take back program. Bring your unused and expired drugs to the PD anytime.
October 26-November 9, for five days a week VIPS manned the South Street crosswalk twice a day to provide safe passage for pedestrians crossing during school opening and closing hours. Construction in the area contributed to a more unsafe walking crossing environment.
October 23, 2023, VIPS collected storage bins for the Gorham School Department's Backpack Program.
October 18, 2023, VIPS performed patrol duty in the village area during the Gorham school's early release day.
October 14, 2023, VIPS participated in the annual Windham Public Safety Day activities by manning a kiosk in which VIPS provided Child ID Kits and also took fingerprints of children for their families.
October 13, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control at the Zombie Run located at Cherry Hill Park. Multiple scary dressed runners participated.
October 12, 2023, VIPS volunteered to help the Friends of Gorham Library move books from the library to the Shaw Gym for the semi-annual book sale.
October 10, 2023, VIPS collected storage bins for the Gorham School Department's Backpack Program.
September 25, 2023, VIPS participated in the Gorham School Department's Backpack Program by collecting empty storage bins from four schools and transporting them to the middle school for food replenishment. VIPS is proud to participate in this program twice a month during the school year.
September 24, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control during the United Biker's of Maine's travel through multiple intersections in town.
September 23, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control during the Rock Riders Motorcycle Group's travel through the village square.
September 20, 2023, VIPS performed patrol duty in the village area during the Gorham school's early release day.
September 10, 2023, VIPS manned various intersections during the Stephen Ward 5K race.
September 8, 2023, VIPS participated in the Camp Sunshine Fundraising Festival held at Shaw Barn/Cherry Hill Park by providing vehicle and pedestrian control. We safely managed over 500 cars and 1400 people.
August, 2023, VIPS performed multiple citizen patrols and conducted house/vacation checks.
August 31, 2023, VIPS assisted the Gorham Recreation Department by providing traffic and pedestrian control at the Glow in the Park event at Shaw Park.
August 28-31, 2023, VIPS provided traffic and pedestrian control at the library crosswalk on South Street during the morning and afternoon school opening and closing periods.
August 27, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control assistance to the University of Southern Maine for their freshman move-in process.
August 26, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control assistance at five intersections in Gorham for a United Bikers of Maine road rally.
August 25, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control assistance to the University of Southern Maine for their freshman move-in process.
August 23, 2023, VIPS provided driver assistance to the Lakes Region Senior Center.
August 17, 2023, VIPS provided assistance to the fire and police department during Camp 911 (2nd session).
August 12, 2023, VIPS provided pedestrian and traffic control for St Ann's Catholic Church during their Prayer Walk from the high school to the church.
August 5, 2023, VIPS assisted the Cape Elizabeth Police Department with traffic control during the annual Beach to Beacon road race.
July, 2023, VIPS performed multiple citizen patrols and conducted house/vacation checks.
July 20, 2023, VIPS provided assistance to the fire and police department during Camp 911 (1st session).
July 11, 2023, VIPS provided office coverage for the police department.
July 1, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control support at a multi agency OUI checkpoint on Main Street.
June 25, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control in North Gorham during the Sebago Lake Triathalon, making sure bike riders were safe passing through four intersections.
June 24, 2023, VIPS provided traffic and pedestrian control during Gorham Pride Day.
June 21, 2023, VIPS attended the Touch a Truck event at the Baxter Library and manned a VIPS cruiser telling attendees about the VIPS program. VIPS also manned a snow cone machine at the same time.
June 18, 2023, VIPS provided traffic control for Trek Across Maine (Maine Lung Association bike ride).
June 17, 2023, VIPS provided parking control for the annual Friendship Martial Arts tournament.
June 16, 2023, VIPS provided a driver for the Lake Region Senior Center for a field trip to Brunswick.
June 15, 2023, VIPS provided pedestrian and traffic control for the Middle School graduation parade. 8th graders on to high school!
June 14, 2023, VIPS provided pedestrian and traffic control for the Narragansett School graduation parade. 5th graders on to middle school!
June 11, 2023: VIPS were busy today! VIPS provided parking control at Gorham High School for the graduation and then assisted Fire Police with road closures for the GHS graduation convoy/parade from JP Noonan to the high school. Congrats class of 2023!
June 10, 2023, VIPS provided pedestrian and traffic control for the St Anne's Prayer Walk from the high school to the church.
June 7, 2023, VIPS provided office coverage for the police department.
June 4, 2023, VIPS provided pedestrian and traffic control in the village square during the annual Taste Walk.
May 29, 2023: VIPS assisted Fire Police with pedestrian and traffic control for Gorham's annual Memorial Day Parade. Gorham puts on a great parade every year!
May 26, 2023: VIPS provided pedestrian traffic support at the Adaptive Event at Gorham High School.
May 20, 2023: VIPS provided traffic control and parking duties for the St Anne's Church 5K race.
May 19, 2023: VIPS provided pedestrian crossing control to 200 middle school students walking to various downtown businesses as part of the Great American Race - kids learning about business.
May 6, 2023: VIPS provided traffic control at Fort Hill Park while students took prom pictures.
May 5, 2023: VIPS assisted school resource officers with a distracted driving class to juniors and seniors at the high school. The students drove golf carts through a cone maze with fuzzy goggles. Many lessons learned.
May 4, 2023: VIPS provided traffic and pedestrian control at the Gorham Middle School for STEAM night activities.
May 4, 2023: VIPS provided support to the Gorham Library for it's annual book sale.
April 30, 2023: VIPS provided traffic control at the Donut Dash race at Cherry Hill Park.
April 22, 2023: VIPS assisted police at the police station during the drug take-back program. Bring your unused and expired drugs to the PD anytime.
March 31, 2023, VIPS provided transportation for seniors at the Lake Region Senior Center for a a Gorham recreation bus trip to the Green Ladle in Lewiston.
March 26, 2023: VIPS assisted with traffic control and pedestrian safety during Gorham Cleans Up - more than 100 volunteers showed up to fan out and pick up trash in Gorham.
February 20, 2023: VIPS provided traffic control at the University of Southern Maine for the Class A state track meet.
January 2023: VIPS assisted admin personnel in files reorganization.
December 31, 2022: VIPS assisted with traffic control at New Year's fireworks.
November 26, 2022: VIPS assisted with traffic control at the 25th Burn off the Turkey 5K.
November 8, 2022: VIPS assisted with traffic control at Election Day polling parking lots.
October 30 & 31, 2022: VIPS assisted with pedestrian and vehicle traffic at two Trick or Trunk events.
October 29, 2022: VIPS assisted Gorham PD's drug take back program.
October 28, 2022: VIPS provided security at the cash box at USM during the MPA volleyball tournament.
October 24, 2022: VIPS assisted with Lake Region Senior Center on a day trip.
October 22, 2022: VIPS provided traffic and pedestrian control at Gorham Rec Zombie Run 5K.
October 15, 2022: VIPS assisted with traffic control at Moody's Demolition Derby.
October 13, 2022: VIPS assisted library personnel with book movement during the annual library sale.
October 12, 2022: VIPS provided parking control at St Anne's anniversary day activities.
October 1, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control for a funeral procession at St Anne's.
Sep 23, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control for MPA cross country races.
Sep 23, 2022: VIPS provided administrative coverage at the police department.
Sep 16, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control for USM motorcycle ride escort.
Sep 15, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control for high school cross country races.
September 11, 2022: VIPS provided pedestrian and traffic control during the Stephen Ward 5K race.
September 1, 2022: VIPS assisted Gorham Recreation with traffic control at the annual Glow in the Park festival.
August 26-28: VIPS assisted the University of Southern Maine with traffic control for incoming freshmen.
August 12, 2022: VIPS assisted with traffic control during the Gorham Library 5K race.
August 6, 2022: VIPS assisted Buxton Fire Police at Buxton Community Days.
June 21, 2022: VIPS assisted the Gorham Public Library with the Spring Into Summer Program. They let kids check out the VIPS cruiser and helped set-up and close down as well as manning a popcorn and snowcone stand. Kids are our future.
June 20, 2022: VIPS assisted Gorham Recreation Department by driving seniors on a field trip to Yarmouth.
June 12, 2022: VIPS were busy today! VIPS provided parking control at Gorham High School for the graduation and then assisted Fire Police with road closures for the GHS graduation convoy/parade from JP Noonan to the high school. Congrats class of 2022!
June 11, 2022: VIPS provided traffic escort for a St Anne's Catholic Church parade from the Gorham High School to the church.
June 10, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control for the Gorham Middle School 8th grade graduation parade and convoy through South Street, Quincy Street area and Weeks Road. On to High School!
June 7, 2022: VIPS assisted PD office personnel with station coverage.
June 5, 2022: VIPS provided pedestrian control in the town square during the annual Taste Walk.
May 30, 2022: VIPS assisted Fire Police with pedestrian and traffic control for Gorham's annual Memorial Day Parade. Gorham puts on a great parade every year!
May 25, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control and parking duties at the Great Falls Elementary School 10th Anniversary celebration. A huge turnout and VIPS were definitely needed and appreciated.
May 20, 2022: VIPS provided pedestrian crossing control to 200 middle school students walking to various downtown businesses as part of the Great American Race - kids learning about business.
May 7, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control at Fort Hill Park for high school prom pictures. Oh to be young again.
May 6, 2022: VIPS assisted school resource officers with a distracted driving class to juniors and seniors at the high school. The students drove golf carts through a cone maze with fuzzy goggles. Many lessons learned.
April 30, 2022: VIPS assisted police at the police station during the drug take-back program. Bring your unused and expired drugs to the PD anytime.
April 24, 2022: VIPS provided traffic control at the Donut Dash race at Cherry Hill Park.
April 3, 2022: VIPS assisted with traffic control and pedestrian safety during Gorham Cleans Up - more than 100 volunteers showed up to fan out and pick up trash in Gorham Village and on New Portland Road, Main Street, the Crosstown Trail, Cherry Hill Trail, Gorham Middle School, and around the high school and Municipal Center. The volunteers filled 2 dump trucks to capacity!
March 2018 / March 2019: VIPS hosted a booth during the Gorham Marketplace at the USM Costello Field House, manning a distracted driving simulator, we had a Yellow Dot Program sign-up and we assisted parents with a child ID fingerprint kit.
Child Fingerprint ID Kit/DNA Swab
One of the most important tools for law enforcement when searching for a missing child is an up-to-date, good quality photograph along with descriptive information. A Child Fingerprint/Photo/DNA ID Kit is a simple yet effective tool to help families maintain current photos of and descriptive information about their children.
Your Gorham Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS), in conjunction with the Gorham Police Department, make these "Child Fingerprint ID Kits" available at no charge. Just stop by our table at one of the many events in town. Bring your child (or children) with you and a Gorham VIPS volunteer will assist you in fingerprinting and give you a "Kit" to take with you. Included in this kit is a DNA swab which the parent can swab at home and store in the freezer. Neither the Gorham Police Department or the Gorham VIPS retain anything. You as parents will provide a photo and detailed information so it will be readily available if ever needed. It is recommended that the photo be updated yearly possibly with a school
photo.
If you want the Gorham VIPS to set up at your event please feel free to contact one of our members or go to our contact page on this site.
The Gorham VIPS will offer the Fingerprint/DNA kit during the Gorham Marketplace event at the USM Costello Field House when the Gorham Marketplace resumes that program.
Gorham Citizens Police Academy
Next Academy: November 2023 - contact the PD
Tuesdays from 5:30 - 8:00pm
The purpose of the 10 week academy is to expose citizens to the functions of the Maine Criminal Justice System and to introduce and maintain a working knowledge of the Gorham Police Department. Attendees have the opportunity to extensively learn from, interact with, and question the experienced professionals of the Gorham Police Department.
Applications are available at the police department or on the Gorham website https://www.gorham-me.org/police-department/pages/citizen-police-academy
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, ideally live in Gorham (preferable, but not necessary) or be employed by the Town of Gorham, have no prior felony arrests or no misdemeanor arrests in the last 5 years, and must agree to a basic background check.
Sergeant Ted Hatch operates the program and shares that feedback from prior attendees has been extremely positive as citizens learned how the Gorham Police Department operates. Some of the comments include: "remarkable," "a truly worthwhile experience," and "almost like being in real situations."
The academy offers citizens a chance to meet Gorham police officers, learn the various aspects of their jobs, and meet new friends. In order to participate as a Gorham VIPS volunteer, attendance at the academy is mandatory.
Applications are available at the police department or on the Gorham website https://www.gorham-me.org/police-department/pages/citizen-police-academy
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, ideally live in Gorham (preferable, but not necessary) or be employed by the Town of Gorham, have no prior felony arrests or no misdemeanor arrests in the last 5 years, and must agree to a basic background check.
Sergeant Ted Hatch operates the program and shares that feedback from prior attendees has been extremely positive as citizens learned how the Gorham Police Department operates. Some of the comments include: "remarkable," "a truly worthwhile experience," and "almost like being in real situations."
The academy offers citizens a chance to meet Gorham police officers, learn the various aspects of their jobs, and meet new friends. In order to participate as a Gorham VIPS volunteer, attendance at the academy is mandatory.