• Become a Volunteer with the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office

    Make a Difference. Serve Your Community. Be Part of Something Bigger.

    The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Program offers community members a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while supporting public safety, emergency preparedness, and community well-being. Our volunteers are an invaluable part of our team, contributing thousands of hours each year in service to the citizens of Yamhill County.

    Whether you are looking to give back to your community, develop new skills, share your professional experience, or become involved in public safety, there is a place for you within our volunteer program. Volunteers work alongside Sheriff's Office personnel and community partners to strengthen public safety, support emergency response efforts, assist those in need, and enhance the quality of life throughout our county.

    We are actively seeking dedicated, dependable, and service-minded individuals who are ready to make a positive difference. No matter your background or experience level, your time and talents can help create a safer, stronger, and more resilient community.

    Yamhill County Sheriff's Office is fortunate to have a dedicated cadre of individuals who volunteer their time, energy, and expertise in service to the agency and the County. For the period of October 2024 – September 2025, volunteers donated a total of 222,526 hours. That is the equivalent of a little more than 11 full-time positions and an estimated value of $820,838. 

    • WHY VOLUNTEER? 

    • As a Sheriff's Office volunteer, you can:

      • Make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
      • Support public safety and emergency preparedness efforts.
      • Gain valuable training and real-world experience.
      • Build leadership, communication, and teamwork skills.
      • Connect with dedicated community members and public safety professionals.
      • Help strengthen Yamhill County for current and future generations.

      Volunteering is more than donating your time—it's becoming part of a team committed to service, integrity, and community.

    • VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS and MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

    • As representatives of the Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, volunteers are expected to:

      • Treat their volunteer service as a serious commitment.
      • Perform assigned duties professionally and to the best of their abilities.
      • Follow all Sheriff's Office policies, procedures, directives, and standards of conduct.
      • Maintain confidentiality and protect sensitive information.
      • Attend required trainings, meetings, exercises, and events.
      • Support the mission, values, and goals of the Sheriff's Office and their assigned volunteer program.
      • Demonstrate professionalism, dependability, and a commitment to serving others.

      Applicants must:

      • Be reliable and willing to make a meaningful commitment to the program.
      • Demonstrate honesty, integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.
      • Maintain strict confidentiality regarding Sheriff's Office operations and information.
      • Work effectively with law enforcement personnel and individuals from diverse backgrounds.
      • Demonstrate respect for governmental agencies, public service programs, and community members.
        Successfully pass a background investigation.
      • For Jail Program volunteers, applicants must not have been lodged in the Yamhill County Jail within the previous five years and not on probation.
    • TRAINING AND APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS 

    • The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office is committed to ensuring volunteers are well-prepared for their roles. Required training is an essential part of the onboarding process and must be successfully completed as a condition of volunteer service.

      Applicants are expected to complete all required training and onboarding requirements before being activated within their assigned volunteer unit.

      Required training includes:

      • FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) 100
      • FEMA Incident Command System (ICS) 200
      • FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) 700

      In addition:

      • Volunteer Response Unit (VRU) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members must also complete FEMA ICS 800.
      • Additional program-specific training may be required depending on the volunteer assignment.
        Completion of all required training, onboarding requirements, and background screening is considered part of the volunteer application process and is necessary before appointment to a volunteer unit.
    • VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITES ~ Learn More About Our Teams and How to Join! 

    • The Yamhill County Sheriff's Office depends on dedicated volunteers who share our commitment to service, public safety, and community partnership. If you are ready to give back, develop new skills, and make a lasting impact in Yamhill County, we encourage you to apply today.

      Together, we can build a safer, stronger, and more connected community.

    • Chose a program of interest:

    • YAMHILL COUNTY VOLUNTEER RESPONSE UNIT

      Volunteer Response Unit (VRU) Members support patrol and operational needs in the field, helping improve public safety and community services.  Opportunities include:

      Traffic Control - Assistance with traffic direction and parking during special events and incidents, helping ensure safe and efficient flow while allowing deputies to focus on enforcement and response.

      Crime Scene Containment - Support for scene security and perimeter control during major incidents such as crashes, drug cases, arson, and violent crimes to help preserve evidence and maintain public safety.

      Vacation Home Checks - Free community service providing periodic exterior checks of residences while owners are away, looking for signs of damage, entry, or suspicious activity, with follow-up reporting.

      Emergency/Disaster Assistance - Field support during disasters and large-scale incidents, assisting with damage assessment, situational reporting, and coordination with partner agencies.

      Community Events - Support for fairs, parades, and public gatherings through traffic control, crowd assistance, public information/booth staffing, and basic safety monitoring.

      Additional Duties - Members may be assigned other field support tasks as needed based on operational priorities.

      Administrative Assistance - Provide essential office and community support services, phone coverage, data entry, and public assistance at Sheriff’s Office substations.

      Special Projects/Events - Support with filing, records work, data entry, and office operations.  Volunteers participate in team events, recognition gatherings, and informal social activities throughout the year.  Volunteer presence in county parks during peak seasons to promote safety, assist visitors, report hazards, and support positive public engagement.

      Fingerprinting Services - Assistance with public and child fingerprinting services at the office and community events.

      Training/Academy - A structured training program preparing volunteers for field and administrative roles. Upon completion, volunteers are sworn in by the Sheriff.

      to apply: YAMHILL COUNTY VOLUNTEER RESPONSE UNIT APPLICATION

    • YAMHILL COUNTY SEARCH & RESCUE

      The Yamhill County Search and Rescue Team is a part of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office. We are members of the community who have joined together to serve the people of Yamhill County and beyond. All of our members receive the necessary training to equip them for the job at hand. Day or night, rain or shine, Yamhill County Search and Rescue is ready to save lives. The team of volunteers is highly skilled and dedicated to its mission. The team responds to the call for action both in Yamhill County and the Pacific Northwest.

      We provide quick and effective search and rescue operations, disaster response, and community education on safety and survival.

      Searching for and rescuing lost people in any weather conditions. 
      Finding, and returning to their loved ones, persons with cognitive disorders.
      Assisting in disasters (i.e. floods, airplane crashes, earthquakes, etc.)          
      Assisting Law Enforcement with evidence searches.  
      In addition to our search and rescue missions, we have a mission of preventative search and rescue.  The majority of our searches are in Yamhill County, but through our mutual aid agreements, we do respond to requests from other agencies to assist them with searches in their counties.


      The academy application period is from May 1 through December 31 of any given year.  

       to apply: YAMHILL COUNTY SEARCH & RESCUE APPLICATION 

    • YAMHILL COUNTY CADET PROGRAM

      The YCSO Cadet Unit gives youth ages 15-21 a first-hand look into the world of law enforcement.  A program for youth interested in learning more about or having a career in law enforcement. The program includes academic learning opportunities with limited field application. The program provides a valuable link between the public, our youth, and the Sheriff's Office.  

      Activities Include:

      • Traffic control at various events. 
      • Security at various events.
      • Crime prevention presentations.
      • Assist deputies on ride-alongs.
      • Special Events
      • Assist with prevention education to peers.
      • Crime scene security.
      • Community policing.

      Requirements to Join
      Interested youth must be between the ages of 15 and 20, must have a GED or high school diploma or be enrolled in high school or a GED course, must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher if enrolled in high school, must have excellent moral character and must be physically and mentally capable of performing the duties of a Cadet.  

      The Commitment
      The minimum monthly service requirement is 16 hours a month.  This will be fulfilled by attending weekly trainings, ride-a-longs with the deputies, and working at community events.  Cadets are volunteers and have no law enforcement authority.  

      Training Received
      Cadets train for a couple of hours weekly on subjects such as Officer Safety, Traffic Control, Uniform Care and Wearing, Command Presence, Domestic Violence, Area Searches, Building Searches, Vehicle Searches, Person Searches, Handcuffing, Traffic Stops, High-Risk Traffic Stops, Report Writing, Crime Scene Investigation, Drug Investigation, K-9 Operations, First Aid, Use of Force, Public Relations, Field Contacts, Defensive Tactics, Fingerprinting, Criminal and Traffic Law, Writing Citations, Mental Health, Radio Protocol and a lot more!  

      What's Provided
      The Cadet Unit provides a uniform shirt, uniform pants, uniform jacket, soft body armor, traffic vest, notebook, and other equipment as available.  Each Cadet is responsible for obtaining a black t-shirt, black polishable boots, black socks, and a black web belt.  Cadets are encouraged, but not required, to purchase a duty belt and equipment for their duty belt such as handcuffs, a flashlight, and a glove pouch.  

      For questions regarding the program email us at: yccadets@yamhillcounty.gov  

      to apply: YAMHILL COUNTY CADET PROGRAM APPLICATION

    • COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM

      The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and, trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

      The 10-week YC CERT Academy educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in disaster response skills.  Upon receiving a Certificate of Completion for CERT Basic Training you may apply to be a Yamhill County CERT (YC CERT) volunteer.

      The mission of Yamhill County CERT is to provide volunteer support to the Yamhill County Office of Emergency Management in an ongoing effort to raise the level of citizen and business preparedness and to make our community more disaster-resilient through training and participation.

      YC CERT volunteers meet monthly for training to maintain skills learned in the Academy. YC CERT volunteers are expected to attend monthly meetings and participate in events such as preparedness & safety fairs, parades, and the County Fair, to name a few.  YC CERT volunteers may be deployed to assist in emergencies as directed by the Yamhill County Emergency Manager.  Active volunteers are issued helmets, goggles, headlamps & safety vests. 

      For more information, visit our website at www.yccert.org.  Our Facebook page is Yamhill County CERT.

      The CERT Team requires attendance and completion of a CERT academy.

       

      to apply: YAMHILL COUNTY CERT PROGRAM APPLICATION

    • AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY SERVICES

      Yamhill County’s Amateur Radio Emergency Service (YCARES) consists of licensed amateur radio operators who have organized to support local public service agencies in times of disaster.  YCARES is sponsored by the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management Office.  We volunteer our equipment in and around Yamhill County neighborhoods, counties, and state to relieve public service personnel so they will be available to perform their jobs.

      The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable but is not a requirement for membership.

      What We Do:

      YCARES commits our support to the Yamhill County Emergency Manager in times of disaster.  Training is an ongoing effort to be prepared when called upon to assist with some of the following tasks:

      ·         Portable Operation
      ·         Working in the Emergency Operations Center
      ·         Home Emergency Stations
      ·         Radio Communications for the Yamhill County Fair
      ·         Community Events & Festivals
      ·         Monthly Ham Radio Exam Sessions
      ·         Swap Meets
      ·         ARRL Field Day

      How We Train:

      ·         Weekly Nets (meeting on the air) on the YCARES repeater
      ·         Transmitter Hunts
      ·         Monthly Simplex Nets
      ·         Simulated Emergency Training (SETs)

      to apply: YAMHILL COUNTY ARES PROGRAM APPLICATION

    • YAMHILL COUNTY MOUNTED POSSE

      A volunteer organization serving as a mounted extension of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office

      Mission

      It is the Mission of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse to represent the People of  Yamhill County and the Yamhill County Sheriff through volunteer public service: to project and encourage an environment of trust, security, and civic involvement: and to promote skillful, safe, and effective horsemanship.

      The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse is the second oldest Posse in Oregon. Established in 1941 in the wake of volunteerism inspired by WWII, the Posse has since remained both a patriotic symbol and a working service group serving at the request of the Sheriff.

      The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse is proud to carry on the fellowship and traditions of the Posse in horsemanship and community service through the support of the Sheriff’s Office.

      The members of the Posse pledge to serve, whether it be as a color guard in a parade, as an aid to traffic control and parking during special events, as emergency assistance for search and rescue or large animal rescue, or as ambassadors and educators for good horsemanship.

      Hosted by YCSMP several times a year offering participants a chance to work with their horses on a variety of obstacles and other creative horsemanship challenges. Check our Facebook page for future event dates: Yamhill County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse.

      Objectives:

       To serve as a mounted service-oriented extension of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office.

      • To foster positive horsemanship in the community.
      • To represent the Sheriff’s Office at parades and other public events.
      • To provide services to the community such as parking and traffic control as requested and approved by the Sheriff’s Office.
      • To offer support in Search and Rescue events as requested and approved by the Sheriff’s Office.

      Posse Member Duties

      • Monthly meeting, 1st Monday of each month
      • Monthly Training Nights, Open Ride Nights, and Fun Days / Fun Nights at Yamhill County Fairgrounds
      • Events (parades, parking, public relations, and other duties as requested).
      • Call-outs by Sheriff’s Office (example: handling and transport of animals evacuated or confiscated by Sheriff’s Office)
      • Participation in at least 75% of Posse activities.
      • Annual qualification of horse and rider and continued demonstration of required skills throughout the year.

      New Membership Requirements:
      Persons interested in becoming a member of the Posse must submit a volunteer application to the Sheriff’s Office. Members of the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse shall consist of persons who are elected to membership and:

      • Are of good moral character and reputation and pass a YC Sheriff’s Office background check.
      • Are at least 18 years of age at the time of their election.
      • Reside in Yamhill County or its vicinity.
      • Are a citizen of the United States.
      • Have an acceptable mount.
      • Perform satisfactorily on the horse and rider evaluation.
      • Provide their own transportation for movement of their mount.
      • Meet uniform and equipment requirements. 

      to apply: YAMHILL COUNTY POSSE PROGRAM APPLICATION

    • YAMHILL COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY PROGRAMS

       

      Our goal is to prepare Adults in Custody (AICs) for a successful transition back into the community as healthy, productive, and contributing members of society. Through evidence-based programming and supportive services, we provide opportunities that promote personal growth, accountability, and long-term success beyond incarceration.

      These programs are designed to address the unique needs of the incarcerated population by developing essential life skills, improving overall well-being, and strengthening the foundation for successful reentry. Participation in meaningful activities helps reduce idle time, encourages positive behavior, and fosters a sense of purpose, responsibility, and hope—critical components of rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.

      By investing in the growth and success of individuals while they are in custody, we strengthen families, improve public safety, and build healthier communities. These efforts contribute to a more effective criminal justice system and create opportunities for lasting positive change.

      Yamhill County offers programs and services in the following areas:

      Religious Programs
         Christian Bible Study
         Gideon's Bible Study
         Jehovah Witness
         Lafayette Community Church
         Potter's House Bible Study
         Salem Tabernacle
         Set Free Christian Ministries

      Support
         Responsible Dads Program
         Responsible Moms

      Treatment
         Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
         Mac Action Group
         Mouth of the Lion
         Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

      to apply: YAMHILL COUNTY JAIL PROGRAM PROGRAM APPLICATION

    • INTERESTED IN BECOMING A RESERVE DEPUTY? 

    • This program is for those volunteers who are over the age of 21 and interested in receiving extensive training in law enforcement. This is often used as a stepping-stone toward being a sworn deputy.  For more information, click here to see the RESERVE PROGRAM information. 

    • Should be Empty: