Opportunity Knocks for Citizen Volunteers with Charles County Sheriffs

CHARLES COUNTY - 10/17/2008

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office is offering citizens the opportunity to take part in community public safety efforts by joining the newly established Auxiliary Volunteer Unit. The unit will be comprised of citizen volunteers who want to assist the Sheriff’s Office with law enforcement and community outreach activities. 

“After I became Sheriff, a lot of people approached me about wanting to help the Sheriff’s Office in a volunteer capacity but until now we had very few opportunities to offer them,” said Sheriff Rex Coffey. “By joining the Auxiliary Volunteer Unit, citizens can help us with scheduled activities and during emergencies. It is a win-win situation; volunteers participate in a cause they believe in and this will in turn free our paid personnel to handle other tasks.”

Among the opportunities for volunteers are fingerprinting, traffic control, clerical support and assignments in the Crime Prevention Unit or Records Section. Another component of the program is similar to citizens on patrol; volunteers may patrol businesses and neighborhoods to report any suspicious or criminal activity immediately to patrol officers, who would respond and take appropriate action. Additionally, volunteers may also be asked to assist the Sheriff’s Office at parades, fairs, carnivals and other community activities. Most assignments will be scheduled but volunteers may also be called unexpectedly should an emergency occur.

To help them perform their duties, each volunteer will be issued a uniform and have access to other equipment. Volunteers will not carry firearms.

All volunteers must be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license, have a good driving record, be in good physical condition, have a telephone and submit to a comprehensive background investigation and criminal history review and mandatory random drug and alcohol testing. They may not have any criminal convictions for any felony or serious misdemeanor offenses.

“Volunteers will be held to as high a standard of conduct as our paid personnel,” said Sheriff Coffey. “We will not tolerate any behavior that undermines the good order, efficiency or discipline of the Sheriff’s Office.”

Before they are assigned to provide any services, every volunteer will participate in entry-level training where they will learn the rules and regulations of the program and how to wear and care for their uniforms and other equipment. The training will also discuss military courtesy, police communications, traffic direction, ethics, weapons familiarization and defensive driving. Additionally, volunteers will be required to attend routine in-service training to further enhance their skills and to ensure that they remain aware of current law enforcement techniques.

“I am excited about giving citizens the opportunity to have such an active role in our public safety efforts,” said Sheriff Coffey. “This program is still in its early stages but it has great potential. I look forward to the opportunity to work with all our volunteers and welcome them as members of our law enforcement family.”

For more information about joining the Auxiliary Volunteer Program, call (301) 609-6417.