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Volunteer Policing in the News

The VLEOA News Feed

Are you a reporter looking for information for a story about volunteer policing? Call us at 888-746-8869

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Thirty-two LAPD reserve officers and a supervisor will travel to Paris as part of security

Three teams of reserves will remain in France at varying times during the Games, working 8- to 12- hour shifts, five days a week.

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Guilty Plea entered in fatal shooting of Nyssa, Oregon Police Reserve Officer Cpl. Joseph 'JJ' Johnson

The man charged with fatally shooting Nyssa Police Reserve Officer Cpl. Joseph “JJ” Johnson on April 15, 2023, entered a guilty plea.

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NYPD Auxiliary Precinct gets funding

Flushing Assembly Member grants over $200k to 109th precinct’s Auxiliary Police Program

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Police Scotland Ayrshire are looking for more volunteers to become special constables

Being a Special Constable is not just about upholding the law and catching criminals, it’s also about supporting communities by building trust, respect, and positive relationships.

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VLEOA Past President Ross Wolf on PolicingTV

In this conversation, Dr. Ian Britton interviews Professor Ross Wolf, an expert on volunteer policing.

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Dr. Iain Britton's Churchill Report

The purpose of the Churchill Fellowship journey was to learn from the practice of volunteer police in international contexts and bring that learning back to form
recommendations for the future of the UK volunteer SpecialConstabulary model.

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Dr. Iain Britton selected for Churchill Fellowship

His fellowship will focus on building international evidence across volunteer police programs, to improve the impact and the experience of volunteer police.

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Translational Criminology article focuses on Volunteer Police

The Center for Evidence-Based Criminology at George Mason University includes an article about volunteer policing in recent publication of "Translational Criminology"- See Fall 2022 edition, pages 24-26.

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VLEOA Board Member addresses questions about auxiliary unit

VLEOA Board Member Adam Dobrin speaks about the importance of training in this news story about Culpeper County (VA) Sheriff Scott Jenkins and his Auxiliary Deputies that are being investigated.

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VLEOA Board Member recognized by Tatler Asia magazine for her volunteer police service

Dr. Phaik Kin Cheah’s service to the community includes policing work alongside regular police officers and fieldwork such as crime prevention patrols and surveillance.

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Matthew Yap (VLEOA Board Member) explains why he is committed to police volunteering

Singapore Deputy Superintendent of Police (Volunteer) Matthew Yap enrolled as a Volunteer Special Constabulary officer to set an example for his children and gain insight into the realm of law enforcement, he shares his story.

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In Honor of Reserve CPL Joseph Johnson, End of Watch: 4/15/23

Video tribute to Reserve Corporal Johnson, Nyssa Police Department, Oregon, who was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop.

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The benefits of reserve officers in modern policing

Utilizing the strengths and expertise of volunteers for ultimate agency transparency

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Volunteers in policing: A vehicle for increased representativeness?

Any police service that states that it works within a democratic policing model should be representative of the community that it polices.

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Happy Police Day from Malaysia

Dr. Phaik Kin Cheah talks about her experience of joining colleagues from around the world in discussing the topic of volunteer policing.

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What it's like to be a Special Constable in the UK

Volunteer officers provide a crucial service across the Humberside Police force area. Rick Lyon found out what life is like as a ‘Special’

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Questions for the cops: What is an auxiliary police officer?

Stratford police Const. Darren Fischer has shed some light on how the volunteer auxiliary police unit functions within the Stratford Police Service.

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News Report on injury to a volunteer deputy

Volunteer police are not immune from injuries in the line of duty.  This news report covers an injury to a Texas Reserve Deputy.

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Reserve Policing:Orange County(FL)

Facebook live video interview session about the reserve unit of the Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office

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To Understand Police Reform, Law Professor Volunteered

As a reserve officer with the Washington, D.C. police department, Brooks received the same training as officers at the police academy and was sent on patrol like other police.

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Part-Time Blues: Volunteer Cops on the Beat

The Los Angeles Police Department reserves are community members who provide unheralded service in their communities.

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How Reserve Officers Function in Iowa

Linn County (Iowa) Sheriff Brian Gardner talks with KCRG News about how reserve officers function in the state of Iowa.

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Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserves

In this present Emergency to combat the spread of Covid-19, PVRs are both frontliners and backliners. Responding to the needs of the force, we PVRs can be called to task in the frontlines with the regular officers or stand back and be on standby.

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Podcast: Why your agency is stronger with reserve officers

Could part-time officers help solve the police recruitment crisis? That is the question Policing Matters host and Police1 columnist Jim Dudley recently debated with fellow columnist Joel Shults as part of their "State Your Case" column.

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Defunding law enforcement: Opinion

VLEOA Board of Directors' Member Adam Dobrin provides an opinion about defunding the police as a guest columnist for the TCPalm.

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OCSD Reserves

VIDEO: The Orange County (CA) Sheriff's Department salutes the 150 men and women who volunteer their time to serve as Reserves for the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

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Malaysian Police Volunteer Reserve Video

The Malysia PVR celebrates 65 years of service with this video in recognition of the anniversary of their founding on May 3, 1956.

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Reserves in the Cayman Islands

The Reserve force of the Cayman Islands helped solve police manpower shortages as the coronavirus crisis took over the Cayman Islands in early March.

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"Behind the Star" PodCast: OCSO Reserves

PODCAST: The Orange County Sheriff's Office Reserve Unit is made up of more than 70 volunteer deputies.  "Behind the Star" host Jon Busdeker talks about the Reserve Unit with VLEOA president Ross Wolf.

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Featured Article: The Guardian

‘I was told to stop Julian Assange if he tried to flee’: Part-time special constables haven’t been in such demand for decades. What makes a lawyer, priest or fast-food worker sign up to fight crime for free?

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Special Impact and Volunteering Matters

"Special Impact" features great stories about UK volunteer policing.  You may also want to review "Volunteering Matters" to learn more about the great things that volunteers are doing for their communities in the UK.

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Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office

VIDEO: Reserve deputies donate their time and expertise to their communities and the sheriff's office, and can work independently or with a partner, depending on their designation, experience, and training.

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Police Day: Malaysia

VLEOA Board of Advisors' member and Associate Professor Dr Cheah Phaik Kin is a volunteer police constable in the Police Volunteer Reserve of the Royal Malaysia Police. She writes about the experiences.

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DC Reserve Officers

VIDEO: VLEOA Board of Advisors' member Marvin "Ben" Haiman talks about D.C.’s police department reserves. This reports focuses on volunteers who continue to step in and provide a valuable resource to the city.

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Los Angeles Reserve Policing

The LA County Sheriff's Department has 570 reserve deputies who do search and rescue, patrol the streets and perform a long list of other duties such as working in the Homicide Bureau. The LAPD has around 400 reserve officers. 

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Reserve Officers: Featured Article

The number of sworn law enforcement officers is decreasing, even as rates of violent crime are rising.  One proven step that law enforcement agencies can take to address the shortages is to implement — and continue — reserve officer programs.

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Police Chief: Featured Article

Citizen volunteer police (and part-time police) can be part of an effective model to meet sudden planned or unplanned needs for an increase in personnel and as a way to create a bond with the communities they serve. 

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Featured Article: Singapore Police

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) celebrates hiring women officers into its ranks. In 2014, women volunteer officers made up about 20% of the VSC. Today they make up 30%.

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Ride-along with Volunteer Police

Dr. Laura Knight spent some time in Orlando to present at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and, during the trip, she was invited to join a volunteer police officer for a ridealong during his evening shift in the tourism area of Orange County.

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IACP Leadership in Volunteer Police Service

The IACP Leadership in Volunteer Police Service Programs Award recognizes international volunteer programs that demonstrate innovative, effective practices and improving service delivery to their communities. See video example: here

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NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt

Trauma surgeon Dr. Kenji Inaba, director of surgical ICU at USC, talks about how he swaps scrubs for a training uniform and a scalpel for a Glock as a reserve with the LAPD. Use the "click here for video" button below for the Lester Holt interview, or read his story in the USC News by clicking here.

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A Stethoscope and a Badge

As a medical student and a reserve police officer, Faroukh Mehkri has found two ways to serve others. “Law enforcement and medicine are two things I’m passionate about,” Mehkri said. “It’s the perfect combination of what I want to do with my life.”

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Neuroscientist with Police Badge

USC student and radiation oncology specialist Faisal Rashid recently became the LAPD’s first Bangladeshi sworn officer through its reserve program.

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Seminole County (FL) Sheriff's Office

VIDEO: SCSO Reserve Deputy Freddy Pertuz, whose full-time job takes him all over the world, answered a personal call to serve after 9-11.

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Malaysian study of Volunteer Police

VIDEO: Research on the motivations of volunteers in the Malaysian Police Volunteer Reserve (PVR), and the role of the PVR in the police force of Malaysia

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Orange County (FL) Facebook Video

VIDEO: Orange County Sheriff's Office (FL) Reserve Deputies are fully sworn law enforcement officers who donate their time and expertise to the Sheriff's Office.

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Celebrities as Volunteer Police

Some of these stars credit their characters with inspiring them to don the badge. Others left dangerous police work behind to pursue a career in show business. But what all of these celebrities have in common is a respect for law enforcement and a desire to help people.

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Citizens as Volunteer Police

Beyond the need to do more with less, volunteering in police work can create a positive partnership between members of the community and their local government.

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Accolades in Special Policing (UK)

Cheshire (UK) Special Constabulary Chief Officer Celvyn Jones has been honored with a Lord Ferrers Award. The Lord Ferrers Awards are the UK's most prestigious national awards for citizens in policing.

VLEOA Featured Member Posts

Submitted by the Avon and Somerset Special Constabulary (June 2023): Special Inspector Paul Weeks was honoured for his 43 years of service with the Special Constabulary upon his retirement.  Paul, who also serves as a member of the VLEOA Board of Advisors, established and led a dedicated team of special constables at a UK airport.

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Submitted by the Toronto Police (Dec. 2022): Auxiliary Superintendent Frank Fernandes was recently honoured for his 50 years of service with the Toronto Police.  Frank, who also serves as a member of the VLEOA Board of Directors and as Patron of the Alliance of Guyanese Canadian Organizations, is a tireless volunteer, greatly contributing to community safety, social justice and relief of poverty at home and abroad by donating his time, efforts and monies, and through many simple acts of kindness, both great and small.

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Submitted by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP): Canadian membership is growing in the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance!  Pictured is the Canadian contingent that attended the VLEOA October 2019 International Training Conference. Pictured are OPP Aux Inspector Visneskie, Aux S/Sgt Guiho , Aux S/Sgt Maltese, Aux Inspector Drake, Aux Cst Treleaven and Aux Sgt Dimitroff as well as members from Waterloo Regional Police (Aux & Reg) and London Police Service (Aux & Reg).

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Submitted by the FHPA: It’s no secret that the President of the United States is one of the most protected people in the world.  When the President travels to West Palm Beach, Florida, there is great coordination with the secret service and local law enforcement. That’s where the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary comes in. Palm Beach always has had plenty of presidential motorcades during campaigning of all past presidents, but President Trump made presidential motorcades a routine in Palm Beach. The members of FHPA troop L are always part of that security detail and carry out these duties with diligence and professionalism. Every member of the FHPA takes this role seriously and performs in a presidential way to insure the Commander-in-Chief is always secure on our watch.

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Submitted by the Portsmouth (VA) Sheriff's Office Auxiliary: The Portsmouth Auxiliary has 27 members, and in 2017, seven auxiliary deputies provided community services by coming in on a weekend and clearing an elderly man’s yard and house exterior that had been overrun with shrubs, trees, bushes and with climbing ivy. It was a full day of hot back-breaking work. Another team went to a home where the interior was over-packed with boxes and papers stacked to the ceiling and worked on clearing that property. The team was nominated by full-time Lt. Teresa Faesi (pictured in photo on front row, first on left) for a "Team of the Quarter" award and for the first time ever, the Auxiliary Unit was selected. Team award members were presented the award by Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas, city HR representative Courtland Marriner, and Sheriff Michael Moore (front row, third from left). Congratulations to the auxiliary team for winning this award for the first time!

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Submitted by the Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office Reserve Unit: The OCSO Reserve unit currently has 70 volunteer sheriff's deputies who work a variety of assignments. 

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