Thousands of agencies across the United States use volunteers to fill vital roles in a wide range of capacities throughout the department. Citizen volunteers help supplement and support officers and civilian personnel by allowing them to concentrate on their primary duties. Volunteer roles may include performing clerical tasks, serving as an extra set of "eyes and ears," assisting with search and rescue activities, and writing citations for parking violations. Volunteering with your local police department can be a fantastic way to give back to your community.
Volunteer positions include:
- Civilian Volunteers: many police departments welcome civilian volunteers for a wide variety of tasks. Volunteers can perform valuable administrative or computer work, or, if they want to make use of specialized skills, they may take on translation duties, lead chaplaincy programs, provide counseling services, train or care for canine units, do composite drawings of suspects, and more. A volunteer position entails a background check and high school diploma or equivalent.
- Internships: some police departments offer internship opportunities to allow students and volunteers to learn about the law enforcement field. In some cases, the hours count for school credit. Duties may include administrative support, victim advocacy support services, fingerprinting, cleaning police vehicles, translation, and more. Interns must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent. Expect a background check and drug test.
For more information on serving as a police volunteer and to find a program in your area, visit the Volunteers in Police Service site.