Police Departments Benefit from Volunteers

An article by Jesse McKinley in the New York Times online, published March 1, 2011, highlights how police departments around the country are turning to volunteers for help in getting their challenging work done. According to the article, many jurisdictions are participating in "an experiment by departments across the country that enlists trained amateurs to perform a broad — and occasionally dangerous — array of investigative duties like collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, searching for missing persons and looking into long-dormant cases." Read the full article here. Also, check out Volunteers In Police Service, a Citizen Corps partner organization that provides support and resources for agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program and for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a community law enforcement agency.