The City of Carlsbad Police Department's volunteer program was established to support police department personnel in their activities of protection and service to the community. The role of volunteers is to supplement the regular professional staff, freeing them to provide the best service possible to City of Carlsbad residents and visitors. There are several ways to get involved in the local police department. By becoming a volunteer in police service, a person joins an elite team of volunteers working hand-in-hand with law enforcement to improve the city while giving something back to the community. To inquire about becoming a volunteer with the Police Department, email us.

Station Volunteers

Station volunteers assist Police Department staff in a variety of areas such as investigations, traffic division, administration, training, police records, and juvenile services. Station volunteers are asked to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours a month. The needs of the Police Department are ever-changing, so available assignments vary at any given time. After a station volunteer applicant has been interviewed, and passed the background process, they will be given an assignment based on department needs, skills and preferences. Training for volunteers is provided on-the-job by a staff member in the assigned area.

Below are examples of some of the things that station volunteers are doing:

• Interacting with the public at the front desk reception area
• Performing electronic fingerprinting of citizens (Livescan)
• Contacting crime victims for follow up
• Data entry of crime and other information
• Statistical reports and data compilation
• Review and purging crime cases

Station volunteer requirements:

• Good moral character
• No felony convictions
• Ability to get along with others
• Current U.S. citizen
• Dependable

Interns

College age interns can get school credit for assisting Police Department staff in a variety of areas such as investigations, traffic division, administration, training, police records and crime analysis. Interns are asked to commit to one semester and a minimum of eight hours per week. Training for interns is ongoing and will be provided on-the-job by a staff member in the assigned area. Interns will rotate through different areas of the department, to get a well-rounded understanding of how a police organization functions.

Below are examples of some of the things that interns are doing:

• Basic workplace skills including the use of office machines, typing and computer skills, and handling of law enforcement equipment
• Updating and maintaining crime bulletins and logs
• Contacting crime victims for follow up
• Data entry of crime and other information
• Statistical reports and data compilation
• Reviewing and purging crime cases
• Assisting with crime analysis 
• Riding along with patrol officers
• Observing dispatchers answering and handling 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls

Intern requirements:

• At least 18 years old and a college student seeking school credit for an internship
• Good moral character
• No felony convictions
• Ability to get along with others
• Current U.S. citizen
  Dependable

Senior Volunteer Patrol

If you are age 50 or over and looking for a challenging, fun way to contribute to the community while helping to reduce crime and increase law enforcement services to the community, then senior patrol may be it. Senior volunteer patrol members contribute approximately 24 hours per month and perform a variety of functions including:

• Neighborhood patrols
• Traffic control
• Foot patrols
• Assistance to patrol officers
• Handicapped violation enforcement
• Police station tours
• Visits and calls to homebound seniors
• Community presentations
• Assistance at special events

Senior volunteer patrol members are required to attend a two-week academy. During this academy, participants receive training in traffic control, safety, first aid and CPR, ethics, radio communications, traffic citations, gangs and drugs, and crime prevention, as well as hands-on driving safety. Members are issued uniforms and all necessary equipment.

Senior volunteer patrol requirements:

• Good moral character
• No felony convictions
• Ability to get along with others
• Current U.S. citizen
• Dependable
• At least 50 years old
• Good physical condition
• Valid California driver license
• Excellent driving record
• Proof of automobile insurance

Other Opportunities

Juvenile Justice Panel

Volunteers participate in the department's weekly juvenile offender hearings. These volunteers sit on a panel, consisting of community members, a peer representative and the program coordinator, to hear first-time juvenile offenders and determine consequences for these juveniles. Persons interested in volunteering for Juvenile Justice Panel are carefully screened and added to an existing waiting list. Panel members selected serve on the panel approximately four times a year.

Reserve Officer Program

Reserve officers supplement the police patrol division by providing additional manpower in the field. Reserve officers function like regular officers - they provide patrol services, assist officers with back up, transport prisoners to jail, issue citations, respond to calls, provide traffic control and assist at special events.

Police Explorer Post 781

The Carlsbad Police Explorer Post 781 is for young men and women ages 14 to 21 interested in learning about careers in the field of law enforcement. Explorers help officers with duties such as directing traffic at accident scenes or major events, and providing assistance at crime scenes, Explorers attend bi-monthly meetings to learn about law enforcement jobs in K9 and narcotics; and to learn about other agencies such as the California the Highway Patrol and the FBI.