Citizen Volunteers
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Started in 1996, the Poulsbo Police Department's Citizen Volunteers Program is an organization of approximately twenty citizens who are actively involved in serving their community, under the guidance and supervision of the Administrative Sergeant. Serving as extra "eyes and ears" for the police officers on duty, their presence has a proven, positive effect toward the deterrence of criminal activity. Articles and photographs have appeared in seven different regional and local newspapers, and several municipal and county law enforcement agencies have studied and started similar, successful citizen volunteer programs modeled from the Poulsbo Police Citizen Volunteers.
Working in pairs, the Citizen Volunteers patrol the city on weekdays, during daylight hours in a specially marked and readily identifiable car. Their main function is to "observe, record, and report." The volunteers are issued special uniforms and a limited police commission. A typical four hour patrol shift includes patrolling the schools, day cares, city parks, banks, and commercial and residential areas. They conduct vacation house checks, patrol for handicap parking violations, deliver agenda notebooks to city council members, report suspicious vehicles and people, and assist with traffic control at annual festivals or community events. They actively encourage the city's bicycle helmet ordinance, and they use a radar gun and radar reader board to monitor traffic in problem areas. Citizen Volunteers can be called out for emergency traffic control at an accident scene if their help is needed, they can be called upon to help the patrol officers on duty look for missing or wanted people or vehicles, and they also provide assistance with crime scene perimeter control, or help coordinate relief efforts in the event of a natural disaster. The only law they enforce is handicap parking violations; they do not perform dangerous duties and are expected to avoid confrontations or hazardous situations.
Volunteers receive classroom training in basic first aid and CPR, defensive driving, and receive in-field training from other volunteers learning about police radios, patrol procedures, and the police department's operations and functions. They also have the opportunity to participate in "ride alongs" with patrol officers on duty, and they have training and updates at every monthly meeting. They patrol in two shifts; a morning shift from 8 AM to noon, and an afternoon shift from noon to 4 PM.
We are always looking for more volunteers. Interested applicants must be 21 or older and possess a current drivers license. They must be of sound mind and body, complete a written application, and pass a background check and an interview board. Citizen Volunteers must be able to commit to the minimum requirement of an average of one 4-hour patrol each week, plus attend the monthly training meetings. For more information, contact the Poulsbo Police Department.
