One Awesome Los Gatos VIP!

Volunteer in Policing Don Stillwell broke the 4,000-mile mark of foot patrols along the Friday morning.

Stillwell joined the town's VIP program in May of 2004 and has been a familiar sight to morning trail users since that time, said Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police spokesman Sgt. Kerry Harris.

It was just in February 2010, that the 82-year-old Stillwell broke the 3,000-mile walking patrol mark, Harris said.

On Friday, to celebrate the remarkable accomplishment, Stillwell left police headquarters on East Main Street in downtown Los Gatos at 9 a.m. on foot accompanied by Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Chief Scott Seaman.

The longtime Los Gatos resident, who also patrols the Civic Center, was presented with a plaque commemorating his service.

The father of two and grandfather of two said he keeps track of his miles with the use of a pedometer and the markings on the trail. "I'm just another pair of eyes and ears for the police department," Stillwell said. "I have a police radio and if I see any problems or trouble I call the officers and alert them."

Stillwell said he's walking less now, between three and five times a week at unspecified hours so as to remain somewhat inconspicuous. "I don't want anyone to know when I'm out there," he said. 

Prior to retiring in 1992, he worked as a dean of boys and football coach at Westmont High School in Campbell. He also served as football coach and physical education teacher at West Valley College in Saratoga.

Also attending the special recognition were Stillwell's grandson Ryan Stillwell, Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police records specialists Keara Johnson and Lydia Perez, as well as a small crowd of other town employees.

Los Gatos has 20 active VIPs. At its peak, it's had as many as 60 such volunteers who help the town as emergency preparedness workers, graffiti cleanup and parking and traffic enforcement.

Harris said the town is recruiting more VIPs and will hold a 20-hour academy tentatively scheduled this summer when that recruitment and selection process is completed.

Volunteers are needed for emergency management preparedness, traffic and parking division support and VIP patrol, which includes vacation house checks, graffiti patrol and cleanup, issuing citations on handicap parking violations, public relations, and other duties as assigned.

It also needs help in the LGMSPD's Records Division, with duties being fingerprinting the public by appointment only, front counter support, answering phones, and some computer data entry.

Parking Control Support responsibilities are assisting parking control officers in transporting police vehicles for maintenance, repairs, car wash - mail delivery, operation of the radar trailers and other duties as assigned.

And crime prevention assistance involves data entry, processing false alarm invoices, citizen parking appeals, telephone follow-up, special event preparation, working special events, assisting in processing work orders for public works, mail delivery, and, other duties as assigned.

For more information and applications, please call Gwen C. Cross at 408-354-6842, or email her at gcross@losgatosca.gov.