Folsom seeks volunteers for police, fire support

Volunteers are needed for police and fire support, the City of Folsom announced last week. Citizens Assisting Public Safety CAPS volunteers support Folsom Police and firefighters, assisting with various public safety functions like desk duty, patrol and public outreach. Volunteers must complete the Citizen's Academy from March through May and pass an interview and background check. Applications for the Folsom CAPS 2026 program will be available Jan. 15, and completed apps are due Feb. 2, authorities said. Citizens can find the application on the City of Folsom website or pick up a printed copy in the Folsom Police Department lobby. For more information, visit http://folsom.ca.us/police or call Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Hess at 916-461-6516. Community Emergency Response Team Meanwhile, Folsom Fire is recruiting for the spring Community Emergency Response Basic Academy. CERT volunteers enhance community safety, assisting Folsom firefighters with tasks like first aid, light search and rescue. CERT members also help with firefighter rehabilitation during large-scale incidents. The CERT squad also provides neighbor-helping-neighbor assistance before first responders arrive and play a key role in emergency preparedness and outreach, said Police Volunteer Coordinator Jessica Hess. Citizens who complete the training, pass a background check and an interview may join CERT. The spring CERT Basic Academy includes four free sessions March 19, 21, 28 and April 2. Participants must be 18 or older with preference for those living or working in Folsom. To register or learn more on the CERT program, visit http://academy.folsomcert.org.