KBR Employees Volunteer to Serve and Protect
KBR employees are going above and beyond to serve and protect in their local communities with support from KBR. The company has joined the Employer Supported Policing (ESP) program in England and Wales, a national scheme run by the Citizens in Policing project. KBR, along with over 120 other companies, supports the cause by giving staff time off in order to volunteer as Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers in their communities.
The ESP initiative is an opportunity for businesses and community organizations to celebrate what can be achieved through the power of volunteers and giving back is at the heart of KBR's culture. Volunteers increase the capacity of constabularies, bringing valuable skills and expertise to police teams and helping to create closer and more effective relationships within communities.
KBR's Jackie Connor, Government Services Manager, has served as a Special Constable with the Sussex Police for eight years and has recently received an award for leadership at the Sussex Police Evolve awards. Through her work with the police, she fulfills the same role as a full time police officer would including the power of arrest.
The role of citizens in policing is vital, especially in recent times with ever increasing pressures on police resources and labor force.
"I love going out on duty as you never know what is going to happen during your shift," said Jackie. "The role varies from being out on patrol, completing paperwork after an arrest to standing at a road closure directing traffic. I am also a response driver on my district which covers 250 square miles so this really helps support regular officers who may be new in the role and ensures we can get to calls quickly and safely," she continued.
Jackie amassed well over 500 voluntary hours in the past year. This has been made possible with KBR's support and involvement with the ESP giving her the freedom and time to help her local constabulary. This was recently showcased when Jackie covered 175 miles looking for a vulnerable missing person.
Jackie stated, "The role of women as leaders in policing has never been more important in providing a female perspective. The Police Service has changed a lot over the last 25 years enabling women and men from all backgrounds to make a lasting difference to their organizations and their communities."
Programs such as these allow KBR to support the police services while furthering the company's long and proud history of working with the public sector in the UK to create transformational change that deliver world-leading capabilities. In addition to supporting the ESP program, KBR also sponsored and provided the delegate packs for the 2017 Senior Women in Policing conference in November, which was hosted by Sussex Police in Brighton and was a huge success.
KBR is proud to support this effort which gives employees an opportunity to give back and for the valuable personal and professional growth which is gained through an experience such as this. Volunteering with the police can help cultivate a transferrable set useful for a professional work environment including a stronger sense of self-confidence, better communication, decision making and the ability to remain calm under pressure; a winning scenario for communities and companies.
To find out more about the Police Volunteer scheme, please visit the Citizens in Policing website.
