Sonoma County Law Enforcement Shows Up in Droves to Honor Volunteers

Police from throughout Sonoma County gathered Saturday morning at the Burton Avenue Recreation Center in Rohnert Park to recognize volunteers who have worked side-by-side with local law enforcement, for free, doing things such as writing parking citations, processing DUIs, policing special events and conducting search and rescue, which have helped fill gaps in a down economy.

"It is so great to see so many volunteers from so many different cities," said Mayor Gina Belforte, to a crowded room of officers from Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Windsor, Sebastopol, Santa Rosa, the California Highway Patrol and the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, amongst others. "What you have given back to your children and the community is truly immeasurable."

Every police department relies, in some part, on volunteers, said Brian Masterson, the city's Director of Public Safety. 

"What makes us special in Sonoma County, is even though we have a small population compared to other counties, we're big in volunteers," Masterson said. "It makes a difference for our residents and their quality of life here."

For example, Rohnert Park has 13 volunteers, including , Santa Rosa has about 40, Petaluma has nine, Healdsburg has five, Sebastopol has around 10 and the Sheriff's Office has about 10, according to police spokespeople.

"We couldn't, in Petaluma, do what we do without volunteers," said Petaluma Police Chief Dan Fish. "Our volunteers average around 2,000 hours a year, and we're expanding the program as we speak."

Next year's volunteer appreciation ceremony will tentatively be held in Petaluma, followed by Healdsburg and Sonoma.