Volunteer Resources Section

Volunteers / Internships

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VISION STATEMENT

In keeping with our commitment to community policing, it is the intent of the Montgomery County Department of Police, Volunteer Resources Section, to promote an environment in which county residents are encouraged to work in partnership with law enforcement officers. This partnership educates citizens and engenders public support for the police while expanding the scope and quality of police services delivered to this community.

GOALS

1. To augment labor resources by supporting paid staff in the fulfillment of job functions. By assisting in the performance of technical and administrative non-enforcement tasks, volunteers, interns, and stipend national service participants enable sworn and civilian employees to focus on the highest priority department functions.
2. To introduce new skills, knowledge, and specialized expertise throughout the department. By contributing critical staff hours, Volunteer Resources staff affords the opportunity for expansion of police services being offered to the community.
3. To enhance the reputation of the department by introducing a diverse corps of professional caliber volunteers, carefully screened and selected, for the capacity to make positive and constructive contributions to the delivery of services.
4. To provide student volunteers, through the department’s Law Enforcement Apprentice Program (LEAP), the opportunity to become familiar with police operations and receive specialized training which fosters interests in public safety and criminal justice careers, and enables course credit to be earned while interns support police operations.
5. To offer all victims of crime timely support, information, and referral which assists them in coping and recovering from the effects of crime.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Volunteer Resources was introduced as a pilot project in 1988 in a climate of government downsizing, fiscal constraint, but increasing demands for police services. The program was developed and implemented by a community volunteer in the Silver Spring District. Initially, three volunteers were recruited to assist officers with station operations, track abandoned vehicles, and notify defendants of outstanding, unserved arrest warrants. 

The exceptional performance and dedication of these first volunteers quickly convinced others of the program’s value and potential. Within six months, twenty-five volunteers were providing support in areas such as crime analysis, crime prevention, investigations, the stolen auto unit, traffic, and victim assistance. Some of the first projects included the development of computer databases for emergency business contact information and county traffic directives, the standardization of procedures for preparing state and federal fingerprint cards; a how-to manual for fingerprinting citizens, and an organized system for tracking stolen auto cases. 

Since the introduction of the Volunteers in Policing (VIP) Program and Intern Program, several thousand volunteers and interns have contributed in excess of three million hours of service. This translates into a conservatively estimated value added service of $30 million and the full time equivalent of close to 300 work years. Currently, our active, highly diverse volunteer corps numbers approximately 200. Volunteers are involved in nearly all aspects of the department’s operations from training to communications. They work side by side in support of the line officers, command staff, and civilian employees. 

Student volunteers interested in pursuing careers in law enforcement or criminal justice may serve as interns in the Law Enforcement Apprentice Program (LEAP) which offers career-related experience and/or course credit. High school students, age 16 and above may fulfill service learning requirements while gaining significant work experience in the public safety field and learning the value of community service.

Generally the department seeks to recruit mature, committed individuals who demonstrate sound judgment, common sense, and are willing to undergo a thorough background check prior to acceptance. Flexible day, evening, and weekend hours are available with the general expectation that volunteers contribute an average of 8 hours per week and a minimum of 6 months of service.

Members of the Volunteer Resources Section are making important contributions in the following areas: