Volunteerism in Public Safety
Organizations
Bob Jacobson
New Brighton Department of Public Safety
October 8, 2015
Sir Robert Peel
Considered a “father” of law enforcement
Are his principles of
policing still applicable
today?
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History of Volunteerism in Policing
• The Police at all times should maintain a
relationship with the public that gives reality to
the historic tradition that the police are the public
and the public are the police with police being
members of the public being paid to give full time
attention to duties which are incumbent upon
every citizen in the interests of community
welfare and existence – Sir Robert Peel
• The test of police efficiency is the absence of
crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of
police action in dealing with it - Sir Robert Peel
U.S. History of Police Volunteerism
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“We were responsible for our neighbors”
Militia
Night Watchmen
Sheriff’s Posse
Police Reserve
Crime Watch Captains
National Night Out
Just the Facts/By the Numbers in
the United States
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2013 – 626,942
2012 - 670,439
2011 - 698,460
2010 - 705,009
2009 – 706,886
2008 – 708,569
2013 estimated population of 268,684,780
2.3 sworn per 1,000 inhabitant
State of MN
• July 8, 2015 we have 10,476 sworn police
officers (excluding inactive licenses)
• 441 Agencies as of July 2015 (had been as
high as 525 and down by 5 agencies from
2014)
• Population of 5,453,218 (2014 estimate)
• 1.92 per 1,000 population
• Do you have 1.92 police officers per 1,000?
• Do you have enough to do the job?
MN POST Board
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2015 - 10,315 active full time officers
2014 – 10,458 active full time officers
2013 – 10,242 active full time officers
2012 – 10,162 active full time officers
2010 – 10,265 active full time officers
2008 - 10,207 active full time officers
issued the fewest number of new licenses
in 2010 in a calendar year
Why Volunteers?
• Force Multiplier
• Nationally we have reduced sworn law
enforcement by nearly 70,000 across the nation
• About 20% of Agencies have deployed Officers to
Military
• Police Departments are closing, consolidating,
merging, etc.
• Police Officers per 1,000 going down
• Value of Volunteers is increasing
Volunteering in MN
38.0% of residents volunteer, ranking them 4th
among the 50 states and Washington, DC.
41.5 volunteer hours per resident.
1.58 million volunteers.
171.8 million hours of service.
$3.7 billion of service contributed.
6.0% volunteer in civic organizations
Minneapolis-Saint Paul 37.0% of residents
volunteer, ranking them 1st among the 51 largest
MSAs
September 11, 2001
• Attacks led to renewed focus on
“homeland security”
• Led to creation of Transportation Security
Administration on November 19, 2001
• Creation of Dept. of Homeland Security in
November 25, 2002
• The world has really changed, or has it on
the local level?
USA Freedom Corps
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Created Post 9-11 by President Bush
Build on volunteerism in post 9-11 world
Terrorism focus
Give people an opportunity to serve
“Citizenship,” service to community
Result was the creation of Citizen Corps
Citizen Corps Mission
The mission of Citizen Corps is to harness the
power of every individual through
education, training, and volunteer service
to make communities safer, stronger, and
better prepared to respond to the threats
of terrorism, crime, public health issues,
and disasters of all kinds
Citizen Corps Programs
Five Federally Sponsored Partner Programs
• Community Emergency Response Teams
• USA on Watch – ie Crime Watch
• Volunteers in Police Service
• Fire Corps
• Medical Reserve Corps
• Learn more at www.citizencorps.gov
Medical Reserve Corps
• Active and retired medical personnel
• Deploy in times of critical needs and/or
disasters
• Support public health
• When will the pandemic come?
Volunteers in Police Service
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LE using volunteers!
Crime prevention
Assist with “police work”
Graffiti abatement
EOC operations
Administrative assistance
Child ID programs
Vulnerable Adult program assistance
Police Reserves
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Screen Carefully!
Train
Policies and Procedures
Can be gateway to police employment
Build leadership abilities
Use them for a variety of needs
Police Explorers
• Boy Scouts of America / Learning for Life
• Training and backgrounds required for
advisors
• 14 to 21 years of age
• Training
• Mentor
• Screen for future employment
Challenges
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Organized Labor concerns
Budget for Volunteers
Political involvement
Liability concerns
Training
Policies
Voluntary Leadership
Recognition
Background Checks
George Zimmerman Effect
Chaplains/Faith Community
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Police Chaplains
Volunteers for disasters
Shelter locations
Space needs for meetings
They will help, you just have to ask….
Public Safety Advisory Boards
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Local Citizen Corps Councils
Public Safety Commissions
Civil Service Commissions
Help them serve…..
Build community support and trust
Increase communication
Increase transparency
Community Policing Philosophy
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Adds to a Community Policing strategy
Partner with others
Citizen Support
Non LE organizational support
Transparency for the Public
Political Support
We must be leaders – won’t happen
without you
• IACP Video
Police Officers Volunteering
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Reading programs
Advisors for Reserves, Explorers, etc
Assist with benefits, fundraisers
Mentor youth
Coach
Faith Community
Santa Cop programs….
And many more…….
Other Resources
• MN Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disasters (MNVOAD) www.mnvoad.org
• MN Police Reserve Officer Association
(MNPROA) www.mnproa.org
• Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS)
www.policevolunteers.org
• Citizen Corps – www.citizencorps.gov
Contact Info
• Bob Jacobson
651-288-4101
bob.jacobson@newbrightonmn.gov
New Brighton Dept. of Public Safety