Denver police are training citizen volunteers to perform routine chores, an initiative that strikes us as a budget-friendly way to allow officers to focus on more serious crimes. But the program bears close monitoring by commanders and the police union.
The Volunteers in Policing Program can be an excellent example of community policing because it involves citizens in keeping their city safe. So far, 390 volunteers who have completed training courses ranging from six to eight weeks, according to Police Chief Gerry Whitman. And there’s a waiting list.
Volunteers have a wide range of ages, backgrounds and education, according to Sgt. Matt Murray, who runs the program. They’ll help in nearly all segments of police work except enforcement and investigation of crimes against persons. Unlike reserve police officers who complete the full police academy course, the volunteers don’t have arrest powers.
“The (volunteers) are not designed to replace police,” Whitman said. “They’re designed to help us do what we do better and be more efficient.”
Although some officers were initially skeptical about the program, Whitman says they now realize that “citizens who are properly screened and properly motivated are definitely an asset.”
Mike Mosco, president of the police union, says he has reservations. “It’s another one of those things where we’re just going to have to wait and see,” he said.
The volunteers will relieve some workload pressure on officers. The department’s authorized strength is 1,405 officers. The city plans on training 137 new officers this year; most will replace retirees, for a net gain of 22 officers.
Trained volunteers will be able to help collect evidence at some crime scenes such home burglaries or auto break-ins that otherwise might not be checked because regular lab staff are spread too thin. Some will help with file-clerk tasks.
Mosco is OK with volunteers taking simple counter reports but wonders “what is Walter (Gerash, noted Denver defense attorney) going to say” about evidence gathered by volunteers?”
It’s essential that the volunteers be assigned to appropriate tasks. Volunteers will staff the department’s four storefront operations, working in the neighborhoods they know best.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Councilman Charlie Brown. “Good for the bottom line and good for the taxpayers.”
Volunteers embody the principle that keeping the peace is everybody’s responsibility.
