The Clearwater Police Department is looking for civic-minded citizens who are willing to volunteer their time to improve the quality of life in their community. We currently have volunteer opportunities in three areas: support, patrol, and expert services.

SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS - These volunteers assist inside the police department with many administrative tasks such as callbacks to victims, data entry, filing, copying, fingerprinting citizens, microfilming, statistical reports, supply distribution, and training of fellow volunteers.

PATROL VOLUNTEERS - These volunteers augment sworn officers in non-hazardous situations such as bicycle registrations, business emergency contact records, code violations, minor traffic crashes (non-injury/parking lot), directed patrols, disabled vehicles, laser/radar speed surveys, message deliveries, repair-a-grams, road obstructions, school crossing details, special events (concerts, DUI checkpoints), traffic direction, watering violations, and welfare checks.

As the eyes and ears of the Police Department our volunteers also conduct the following patrol functions.

Sand Key Patrol - Volunteers are in uniform, drive marked ATVs in the park and on the beach areas along the intercoastal waterway. They assist the public with information about the area, check the area for wildlife concerns while diligently watching over the parking lots, beaches and roadways for hazards and safety concerns.

Clearwater Beach Patrol - Volunteers are in uniform, drive marked ATVs, and pick-up trucks. They perform many of the same tasks as the Sand Key Patrol with the addition of patrolling the streets.

Park Patrol - Volunteers are in uniform and drive marked pick-up trucks. They patrol all the city parks assisting the public, checking for safety hazards, maintenance needs, etc.

Homeland Security - Volunteers are in uniform and drive marked pick-up trucks. This group checks various sensitive locations throughout the city for things that are out of place, suspicious vehicles or people.

Trail Patrol - Volunteers are in uniform and ride bicycles to patrol the City's East-West Trail as well as the Pinellas Trail. They are alert for homeless camps, graffiti, abandoned property and other hazards which has resulted in the trails being a much safer area for the public to enjoy.

Quick Response Team - Volunteers are in uniform, drive marked pick-up trucks and are called upon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are called on short notice to assist officers with traffic at a serious crash scene or to assist in securing a crime scene. Whatever the need, they are there to assist with various non-hazardous support functions.

EXPERT SERVICES VOLUNTEERS - These volunteers assist with language interpretation for victims or citizens in need of police assistance, help our victim advocates, or other professional services.

To be a volunteer you must be at least 21 years of age, have no criminal history, successfully complete the provided training, and be willing to volunteer a minimum of 4 hours a week. A patrol volunteer must also possess a valid Florida driver’s license and a good driving history.

To apply for a volunteer position, download and complete the online application ("print and mail"), or contact Officer Carol Schmidt at (727) 562-4167 or email cschmidt@clearwaterpolice.org. For additional information, check out Volunteer, the newsletter of the Clearwater Police Volunteer Program.