"Why volunteer officers leave - and what police leaders can do about it" - A Police1 article by VLEOA President Ben Haiman

4 days ago

1 min read

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While recruitment remains a visible challenge for law enforcement agencies across the globe, keeping unpaid personnel engaged and on duty poses an even greater hurdle. In a recent column published on Police1, Ben Haiman, President of the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance (VLEOA) and Executive Director of the University of Virginia Center for Public Safety and Justice, explores the critical factors driving volunteer officer turnover and outlines actionable steps leaders can take to foster long-term retention.

Drawing key insights from the 2026 VLEOA International Training Conference, which convened reserve, auxiliary, and volunteer officers from Asia, Europe, and North America, Ben highlights that retention issues often stem from subtle cultural and operational disconnects rather than major policy failures.

For police executives, Haiman’s message is clear: while volunteer officers don't rely on the department for a paycheck, they hold high standards for organizational leadership, respect, and professional integration.