What is "S.T.A.R.S."?
The Butte County Sheriff's Office started the S.T.A.R.S. program in March of 1993. Since that time, a small group of 16 original volunteers has blossomed into a team of 130 seniors who are dedicated to serving their communities.
The S.T.A.R.S. Program stands for "The Sheriff's Team of Active Retired Seniors". Senior volunteers work closely with law enforcement in a variety of non-hazardous activities helping to make our communities a safer place to live, work and play. There are four areas of patrol: Oroville/Chico/Magalia/Gridley.
Volunteers must be 50 years of age or older and able to donate four hours of free time per week to the program. We encourage both men and women to apply, and in fact have several teams of husbands and wives, and other relatives too.
Applicants must fill out a written application, have an oral interview and be able to pass a background investigation. S.T.A.R.S. volunteers must attend a Basic Training Academy and purchase and maintain their own uniform.
After becoming a S.T.A.R.S. volunteer, there are many optional opportunities to continue upgrading your skills i.e. Report Writing Class, Dispatch Center, etc…. There is also a mandatory monthly training meeting.
DUTIES AND ACTIVIES
PATROL: The S.T.A.R.S. will patrol the unincorporated areas of Butte County in marked Sheriff's vehicles equipped with two-way radios and cellular telephones. Volunteers always work in teams of two, never alone. Patrol units take crime reports, perform daily home checks of citizens who are on vacation, pick up found property, assist with traffic control at an accident or other emergency, extra patrol school zones, and much more. If any suspicious activies are observed, the S.T.A.R.S. should back-off, radio the dispatch center as to the situation and wait for further instructions. S.T.A.R.S. are never asked to place themselves in dangerous situations.
VACATION CHECKS: The S.T.A.R.S. volunteers offer free home security checks to persons who are on vacation or away from their property.
OFFICE: Volunteers perform numerous duties in the office such as: answering phones, dispatching, performing basic clerical work, writing crime reports, assisting walk-in citizens and more.
CRIME PREVENTION: Volunteers assist with Neighborhood Watch, children's safety programs and community events.
GRAFFITI ERADICATION: S.T.A.R.S. members supervise citizens convicted of misdemeanor crimes and sentenced to the Sheriff’s Work Alternative program in the removal of graffiti. All graffiti is removed, with the property owner’s permission, within one week of it being reported or observed. Because of this program, graffiti in Butte County is almost non-existent.
EMERGENCIES: S.T.A.R.S. are on call to assist the Sheriff's Office or other law enforcement agencies when needed; i.e. floods, fires, or other natural disasters.
MISCELLANEOUS: The volunteers also assist the Records Division, work in Investigations and Evidence, and work with the Jail in the Work Alternative Program. There are always plenty of new assignments available in a variety of areas. AS we gain more volunteers, our involvement will continue to expand.
BECOME INVOLVED IN S.T.A.R.S.
Find out how you, too, can make a difference. Contact us at our office nearest you:
sovolunteer@buttecounty.net
 OROVILLE MAIN OFFICE
33 County Center Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
(530)538-7820 |
 CHICO SUB-STATION
479 East Park Avenue
Chico, CA 95928
(530)891-2704 |
 MAGALIA SUB-STATION
14166 Skyway
Magalia, CA 95954
(530)872-6337 |
GRIDLEY SUB-STATION
239 Sycamore St.
Gridley, CA 95948
(530)846-4411 |