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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Utilizing the strengths and expertise of volunteers for ultimate agency transparency

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

‘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?

"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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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%.

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.

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

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.

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.”

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.