Volunteer Op... JCSO Citizen's Academy

I didn't have any plans for the 4th of July so when I saw an email from Rita asking for volunteers to help with the Stilwell 4th of July parade I said "sure, why not?"  Wouldn't you know it, moments after responding "yes" I got not one but two invitations to holiday fun on the 4th of July.  That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes...  I already committed so there was no backing out!

Who knew it would be the hottest day of the year to date??? 102 degrees on parade day!!!  Oh well, it's okay, had I not volunteered to help JCSO out at the parade I would have volunteered to work the first aid station at Spirit Fest for the Red Cross.  Either way, it was going to be a hot adventure!  But one thing I knew for sure, I wouldn't be catching myself on fire or possibly losing a finger this 4th of July!  (Volunteering was my way of staying out of trouble this year.  I like blowing things up but in all honesty I really wasn't interested in fireworks this year.  Still having issues getting past the fire.  I didn't watch any fireworks and was glad that my neighbors adhered to the fireworks ban in Shawnee.)

11 volunteers met up with Deputies at 5pm for a debriefing and then we headed out to our assigned locations.  I was assigned to traffic control one block east past the end of the parade route.  This location would see traffic from 2 different directions filtering in to the parade route.  My task was to prevent anyone from turning in to the parade route.  I used my car to block the road so that turning in to the parade route wasn't possible. (That's probably the only time I'll get to illegally park in the middle of the street blocking traffic without getting a ticket or something so I took advantage!  Okay, it was recommended I do that so I really was just doing what I was told...)   I got an ear full from a couple people who wanted to turn but they listened to my instructions to turn left instead of right.  If I had a problem I could have yelled up to Deputy Leiker who was on the other side of the railroad tracks directing traffic away from the parade route.  We were given a cell number for one of the deputies to respond to our location if needed.  Deputy Leiker was close enough to me it wasn't really an issue I had to worry about.  In all, spent about an hour blocking traffic in the heat.  Glad I wasn't wearing a black uniform with bullet proof vest and all the other stuff the deputies wear.  I was hot enough wearing my khaki shorts and CA shirt with the neon yellow vest (with Sheriff written on it so we looked somewhat official) on top of it! 

I guess they put me off the parade route this time so I couldn't socialize with the parade participants. That wasn't very nice....... I like candy too! 

Still not sure how much more I will participate in volunteer activities with the Sheriff's Office.  I guess as long as the deputies and staff keep saying thank you for coming out to help I will continue to entertain the idea of volunteering.  I am meeting some interesting people and that's really what makes volunteering special... the people you meet and sometimes even get to help!

Volunteering with the Johnson County (KS) Sheriff's Office

I am starting to get a feel for the types of opportunities available for volunteers with the Sheriff's Office:  assisting Deputies with DUI check lanes, assisting with community events such as parades in which traffic control is needed, courier mail to the different buildings the Sheriff's Office utilizes, working in the Civil Division helping with filing and miscellaneous office work, working in the Detention Division making court reminder calls, greeting at ceremonies, being role players for scenarios, playing McGruff at a parade for one of the small towns in the unincorporated area of the county, etc. are just some of the opportunities available.  Interested in becoming a volunteer?  You'll need to complete the Citizen's Academy first.  Click here for more info. 

A few weeks ago I volunteered with 5 others at the Edgerton Days Parade.  One volunteer dressed up in the McGruff costume and rode in the parade.  The rest of us were each paired up with a deputy to help with traffic control.  It was a pretty easy assignment.  (And before anyone throws a tantrum I am not saying the job of a leo is easy but rather this assignment was easy! Geez....)  The parade ran down the main corridor of Edgerton (Nelson Street?).  I was paired up with Deputy Sligar.  Deputy Sligar was cool to hang with. Before the parade started and we moved to the assigned positions he talked about ride alongs and answered some questions I hadn't thought about during my ride alongs as well as general questions about the Sheriff's Office.   He asked how things were going for me since the fire and poked a little fun at me in the process.   I use humor as my coping mechanism so it was actually somewhat comforting to me that some of the deputies made lite of my situation by poking fun at me regarding the patrol car engine fire (you might want to read my entry for ride along #1 if this is the first you are hearing about the patrol car engine fire). I needed a laugh and that certainly was something to laugh about (the patrol car fire, not my fire of course)!  I appreciate all the support I got from everyone while going through the Citizen's Academy during what was a very difficult time in my life so let me just say Thank You to all my fellow CA graduates and the Deputies and Staff for poking fun at me but also keeping me in your thoughts and prayers! 

Okay, back to the parade... We were assigned to block traffic on 2nd street from entering in to the parade route.  Deputy Sligar blocked off the north side of 2nd Street with his patrol vehicle and placed cones across the south side of 2nd Street.  He monitored traffic on the north side and I monitored traffic on the south side.  A couple vehicles approached but turned around before reaching the cones where I was hanging out at so I didn't really have to do anything more than wave at them.  Because I was so close to the street the parade was traveling on people involved in the parade kept asking me if I wanted candy, literature or to shake their hand.  I'm apparently not intimidating at all while wearing a Citizen's Academy shirt and khaki shorts!!!  That's okay!  I'll leave wearing the uniform with badge and gun to the men and women who actually protect and serve!!!  I was really just gabbing with the folks of Edgerton anyway.  :-) 

Not sure what adventure I will get in to next but rest assured if allowed I will blog about it.  This blogging thing is actually kind of fun...  Thanks for reading!