The Citizens Patrol Volunteer Program is the newest opportunity for citizens to volunteer their time with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

As a member of the Citizens Patrol, you will have an opportunity to serve side by side with our deputy sheriffs and perform a variety of valuable services for our citizens and visitors to Pinellas County. Some of these responsibilities may include seizing and transporting found property, directing traffic at special events or around disabled vehicles, conducting vacation home checks and much more.

The Sheriff invites you to consider becoming a member of our Citizens Patrol team. Our volunteers provide an invaluable level of service and support to the community as well as to Sheriff’s Office members. Your desire to volunteer your time to help others is an excellent example of being a good neighbor, and contributes to our overall mission of “Leading The Way For A Safer Pinellas”.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions

Citizen Patrol applicants must meet the following criteria:

•  Must be a citizen of the United States
•  Be at least 18 years of age
•  Possess a valid driver’s license
•  Successfully complete a program application
•  Pass a background investigation

Once the application is completed and returned, a background check will be conducted, and applicants will be scheduled for a polygraph test, a psychological test and a physical assessment test. Once the application process is successfully completed, approved volunteers will be scheduled to attend the 100 hour Citizens Patrol Academy.

Volunteers will receive individual training for their work assignments as well as occasional training with other volunteers in a group.

 Citizens Patrol

How to Apply

The Citizens Patrol Volunteer Program is coordinated through the Sheriff’s Crime Prevention Unit in the Community Services Section of Patrol Operations.  If you are interested in applying for the Citizens Patrol Volunteer position, please call the Sheriff’s Human Resources Division at (727) 582-6208, and ask for an application.

The Sheriff’s Citizens Patrol Volunteers are not sworn deputy sheriffs and will not be assigned tasks that require this status.
Citizens Patrol

Duties

The Mission of the Citizens Patrol Volunteer Program is to provide members of the community an opportunity to work with law enforcement to provide efficient and professional public safety and service.

Citizens Patrol duties include:

  • Directing traffic at crash scenes
  • Issuing parking tickets
  • Recovering and transporting found property
  • Assisting disabled motorists
  • Vacation Home Checks
  • Registering local businesses with the Sheriff’s “Business Watch Program”
  • Participating in community events involving the Sheriff’s Office
  • Assisting the Sheriff’s Sexual Predator and Offender Tracking Unit (SPOT) with neighborhood notifications
  • Providing additional security at pedestrian crosswalk

Citizens Patrol Volunteers will work in teams of two and be assigned to drive a marked “Citizens Patrol” van. They will learn how to respond to dispatches from the Sheriff’s Communications Center. Volunteers are also responsible for contacting the Communications Center regarding any incidents they may witness or discover while on patrol.

Under no circumstances are Citizens Patrol Volunteers to become involved in a situation that should be handled by law enforcement.