Citizens Helping Interpret for Police (C.H.I.P.s)

If you speak a second language and are interested in helping your community…

The Duluth Police Department is looking for volunteers to start off a brand new program called C.H.I.P.s (Citizens Helping Interpret for Police).  If you speak a second language and are interested in helping the Duluth community, then we need you!

The program involves civilian volunteers who ride along with police officers while the officers are on patrol.  If a situation arises where the officer is unable to communicate with a citizen who needs help, or the citizen is unable to speak to the officer (due to a language barrier), then the volunteer can help with interpreting.

The goal of this program is to help police serve the community in the best possible way, regardless of what language a person might speak, but to do this we need your help.

Benefits to volunteering include:

  • You have a real chance to help your fellow citizens and your police department.  Many times non-English speaking individuals are unaware of the many services that are available to them through their city and their police department.
  • You can volunteer on your own time schedule.  The police department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so any time that is good for you, works for us!
  • You get a chance to ride along with a police officer and learn what he or she does on a daily basis.  You get to learn more about law enforcement and whether or not it might be a career choice for you.
  • Volunteers receive free t-shirts which identify them as a C.H.I.P.s volunteer to be worn while “on duty”.

Volunteer Requirements

  1. C.H.I.P.s volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
  2. All C.H.I.P.s volunteers must consent to a criminal background check and be able to provide valid identification.
  3. Volunteers will not be allowed to participate in the C.H.I.P.s program if any felonies or aggravated misdemeanors are revealed by the background check.
  4. All C.H.I.P.s volunteers must sign a Waiver of Liability Form, a Criminal History Records
    Consent Release Form and a GCIC Awareness Statement prior to riding with an officer or participating in police related activities.  These forms will be provided by the police department