19-Year Police Volunteer Dies

She was a charter member of the city's police volunteer force, donated fabric to women who sewed quilts for military families and ran a program whereby calls are made daily to senior members of the community.

All told, Joan Hood donated 9,103 volunteer hours to San Juan Capistrano before her death Oct. 30, city officials said.

She was 84.

Hood was a Woman of the Year in 1998 and was twice recognized by the County of Orange for her volunteer efforts.

According to a 1994 Los Angeles Times news brief, Hood ran her own crafts store, Crafty Kids.

Hood became a member of the Associated Senior Action Program at its founding the fall of 1992. ASAP volunteers, who often wear bright yellow tops and are regularly seen bicycling around town, help with clerical and support, special events and patrol work.

“The combination of Joan’s administrative skills and passion for volunteerism has been a wealth of benefit to the City of San Juan Capistrano and its citizens," former sheriff's Lt. Dan Dwyer said in a statement last year. "Joan always demonstrates a can-do attitude and seeks to enhance the membership’s camaraderie."

Throughout her 19-year tenure with ASAP, she helped organize functions such as the volunteer appreciation luncheon. She eventually earned the rank of administrative lieutenant.

"The ASAP program was a big part of Joan’s life for the last 19 years," city spokeswoman Cathy Salcedo said. "She loved law enforcement work ... she will truly be missed."

Hood was also a member of the CCPOA-CA Crime Prevention Officer’s Association and was a Trauma Intervention Program volunteer.

In her role overseeing "You Are Not Alone" program, Hood would visit seniors in their homes and accompany them to special events in town.  If she did not receive a response from the seniors when she checked on them, she would ask the sheriff's deputies to conduct welfare checks, Salcedo said.