Today, it is estimated there are over 200,000 volunteers in police work throughout the United States. Although the need for such volunteers has never been greater, there is a lack of published materials regarding the nature of volunteer police work and how qualified citizens may augment police services. American Volunteer Police: Mobilizing for Security provides a selective overview of the history, organizations, operations, and legal aspects of volunteer police in various U.S. states and territories.




Designed to help police leaders adopt or modify their own volunteer programs, the book:

• Highlights what average Americans have done and are currently doing to safeguard their communities



• Presents contributions of police and safety volunteers at all levels of government—including the work of FEMA volunteers, the Civil Air Patrol, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary



• Examines youth involvement in contemporary police departments



• Discusses a variety of legal matters concerning volunteer participation in policing



• Includes the latest Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) standards concerning auxiliary and reserve police



• Explores new roles for volunteer police, including the treatment of homeless persons, the prevention of human trafficking, violence prevention in schools, immigration and border protection, and the establishment of college-level reserve police officer training cadet programs

Framed by modern concerns for homeland security and community safety, the book places the topic in historical and international contexts. It will serve as a catalyst for the development of courses as well as growth in the number of qualified volunteer police, a necessary resource for homeland security.


A 103-page online instructional manual is available for instructors who have adopted this book. It includes model answers to each of the review questions found at the end of each chapter as well as additional student exercises and related updated references.