DANA POINT : A Police Job That’s Based on Seniority

Quintin (Whitey) Wirtz’s last stint of police work was back in 1944 with the Laguna Beach Police Department. As a reserve officer, he had the choice of signing on with the department full time or joining the Army and serving in World War II.

“I chose the Army,” said the 72-year-old Wirtz. “I always wondered whether that was the right move.”

Forty-seven years later, Wirtz has a second chance. As a member of Dana Point’s new Volunteer Interest Program for Seniors, he is one of 22 senior citizens who help the Orange County Sheriff’s Department with duties such as fingerprinting, clerical work and directing traffic.

As the program continues, the seniors could be riding with deputies, helping with parking enforcement and doing whatever else frees up rank-and-file police officers to do the more difficult work.

“They have been a tremendous help for us,” said Deputy Joe Homs, who along with Deputy Dan Salcedo coordinates the Dana Point program. “They allow us some more time to do the other parts of our job. It also serves to get the community involved in issues like crime prevention and safety.”

When the program was launched last summer, the first person Homs contacted was William (Scotty) Smith, 75, a Capistrano Beach resident and longtime organizer of the community’s Neighborhood Watch program.

“Joe called and asked me if I was interested,” Smith said. “The next thing I knew I had a uniform thrown at me.”

Uniforms, complete with the Sheriff’s Department-issue trousers, belt and shirt, are provided for all volunteers who join the program. Hats and coats are coming soon, as is a new Ford van strictly for the senior citizens’ use.

Computer instruction is one part of the 40-hour training program all volunteers must complete before becoming bona fide members of VIPS. Other qualifications include a physician’s approval, a valid driver’s license and a background free of any criminal activity.

Volunteer Colby Thompson, 69, jokingly calls himself a member of the “Niguel Shores Mafia.” After retiring from a career in sales and sales management, Thompson never figured he would be on the streets of Dana Point in uniform, helping with police work.

“I actually never thought I’d be a volunteer anything,” Thompson said. “I was always paid very well for what I did. But I wanted to keep up to date with computers, and this program has enabled me to do that.”

Jerre Hayes’ only previous connection with police work was growing up as the daughter of a Whittier police officer. But after 32 years of work with the Pico Rivera Board of Education, Hayes retired and moved to Dana Point in 1982.

Now she dons her uniform several times a week and helps the deputies. “It’s kind of exciting, but I just find it worthwhile, something to do to help our community,” Hayes said.