Volunteers are often the backbone of any commu­nity, and those who give their time to the Sedona Police Department are no exception. 

The department’s volunteer program has been a success for the last 15 years and recently many were recognized by the department for their assistance over the years. 

One of those was Fred Shinn, who started with the program a decade and a half ago. 

Recently, SPD Chief Charles Husted presented Shinn an award for his dedication to the program and for founding SPD’s Field Support Unit. The FSU team is responsible for assisting SPD with arrestees and prisoner transports to and from county detention facilities and picking up non-violent subjects arrested on Sedona warrants by outside agencies within a range of 150 miles. 

“Fred Shinn embodies our vision of selfless service for all,” Husted said. “I am humbled by the thousands of hours that Fred has given of his time to our organization and very thankful for his authentically selfless service.” 

Shinn said he had been interested in law enforcement for years and after moving to Sedona saw an opportunity to lend a helping hand. 

“When I moved to Sedona, I saw an article in the Sedona Red Rock News for those interested in a police volunteer 
 program,” he said. “I had not had any direct experience as a sworn officer. The program was initially designed to alleviate the amount of time a sworn officer is bound to activities that are time restricting and not part of his normal duties.” 

He said he’s proud of helping to establish the Field Support Unit, which transports prisoners to the three different incarcera­tion facilities in Camp Verde, Flagstaff and Prescott. 

“This requires special training and a very strong commit­ment to the program due to its unpredictability,” Shinn said. “The personal enjoyment and satisfaction that I receive in assisting our law enforcement, in a modest way, is deep-seated and a way of giving back.” 

The volunteer program also encompasses assisting in fingerprinting, vacation watch program, traffic details and other administrative and opera­tional duties. 

“I must admit, hearing the thank yous and appreciation from our men and women in the Sedona Police Department gives all of us a great degree of satisfaction in knowing we are helping them,” he said. “The surprise recognition by Chief Husted for my time with the volunteer program was very humbling. Doing something that you have a deep passion for and then being recognized for it is a life experience in itself. I am deeply and sincerely grateful.” 

Those currently in the volun­teer program include Barbara Cadwell, Joe Corral, Patty Corral, Lisa Croft, Vern Croft, Robert Decker, Lt. Stephanie Foley, Carol Gandolfo, Harry Gold, David Gorman, Sharleen Henderson, Maria Husted, Ken Jepson, Noel Marquis, Dan Minamide, Ron Minzer, Vincent Monaci, Sherri O’Connor, Raymond Schwartz, Fred Shinn, Chris Siddoway, Ron Siddoway, Rudy Szabados, Gregg Thomas, Leroy Townsend, Tony Troianello, Michael Vitek, Phil Wadsack, Mike Ward and Francis Wirkus. 

“Our volunteers at the Sedona Police Department are invaluable,” Husted said. “They provide and support important services for our community not readily possible through our current staffing levels, along with performing a myriad of critical tasks within the police department.” 

Shinn added that he encour­ages everyone who feels that law enforcement is indeed a civic responsibility that deserves public involvement to contact the Sedona Police Department and become a part of the volunteer program.