The St. Petersburg Police Department’s Volunteer Road Patrol was started in 1996 and has developed into an essential element of our police department. Our volunteers assist our police department with non-confrontational situations. They do not carry weapons or have any arrest powers. Road Patrol Volunteers handle many non-criminal duties of police officers, creating more available time for police officers, so they can respond to dispatched calls quicker and investigate criminal activity.
The Road Patrol Volunteers are uniformed personnel making them recognizable as a representative of the St. Petersburg Police Department. They have access to the police radio system providing them direct connection with our police officers.
Volunteer Road Patrol responsibilities include tagging and impounding abandoned vehicles, handling minor found property reports, such as found bicycles, helping disabled motorists and assisting in traffic direction at vehicle crashes and fire scenes. Volunteers are also trained to issue parking citations. They issue violations for various types of illegal parking, such as handicap parking, fire lane violations and vehicle street storage.
A Volunteer Road Patrol applicant must pass a thorough background check and polygraph examination. They are required to successfully complete a 40-hour training class which includes, but is not limited to; safety and public interaction, police radio communications, computer report writing, driving, abandoned vehicle procedures, Florida State Statutes and City Ordinances. They are fully supplied with the necessary equipment and training needed to complete their responsibilities.
Qualifications
All Volunteer Road Patrol applicants must meet strict qualifications prior to participation in the road patrol program. These include but are not limited to:
- Pre-application questionnaire
- Completion of full application
- At least 19 years of age
- Must be an American citizen
- Good moral character
- Must possess valid Florida driver's license
- No felony convictions
- Background check
- Passing a polygraph test
- Fingerprinting
- Successful completion of the Road Patrol Academy
The road patrol academy will be scheduled to accommodate the students in the class.
A road patrol volunteer is required to volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month. Full and half day shifts are available and are scheduled for mornings and afternoons, on weekdays.
For information about the St. Petersburg Police Volunteer Road Patrol Program contact:
Melissa Mehling
727-893-7141
Melissa.Mehling@stpete.org