Volunteers in Police Service

Training produced by Missouri Regional Community Policing Institute in partnership with the Office of the White House, IACP, USDOJ & COPS

Lesson Plan

The Benefits of Volunteer Programs:

• The use of volunteer programs benefits the agency, the volunteer and the community.
• Volunteers allow law enforcement agencies and officers to focus on policing and enforcement functions by providing supplemental and/or support services (administrative, citizen patrols, school related activities research, community events, neighborhood watch etc).
• Volunteers can help provide services that the public wants but that sworn or civilian staff may not have the time to furnish.
• Volunteers can also enhance law enforcement-community relations.
• The financial return on investment of a volunteer program can be substantial, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• The U.S. Department of Labor estimated that national hourly average for volunteer labor is comparable to $18.00.
• Access to a national database that summarizes volunteer opportunities available in law enforcement, searchable resource for agencies looking to network and contact programs offering similar or desired volunteers roles.
• Access to site includes an online resource guide that provides sample policies, forms, job descriptions and training materials.