Volunteer Program

Volunteers

Who We Are

Volunteers serve with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office in a wide range of capacities, selflessly donating their time to help the agency better serve the citizens of Manatee County.

What We Do

Clerical Support - General office duties to high-tech computer skills helping in a variety of areas throughout the agency
Crime Analysis - Assist with running reports on crime statistics to fill requests from the public, other agencies, and within our agency
Human Resources / Employee Health Benefits - Assist with general office duties; filing, scanning, and organizational skills a must
Investigative Aide - Assist investigations with call backs, logging and tracking case paperwork, and using one’s own knowledge or skills to help assist detectives
Records - General office duties, scanning, organizing, and other duties to help keep reports organized and available for retrieval in a timely and accurate manner
Special Programs Assistance - Assist the Crime Prevention Unit / Volunteer Coordinator in a variety of ways: Attending special events, recruitment of volunteers, assisting with agency surveys, Business Trespass Program assistance, and more...
Training - Help the training section with general office duties and, if qualified, instructing agency personnel
TRU (Telephone Reporting Unit) / Front Desk - Assist the deputies at the main entrance of the sheriff’s office by greeting visitors, inquiring of their business, and directing them to appropriate locations
VCSA (Volunteer Community Service Aide) - Assist the patrol function by handling minor incidents and calls for service, directing traffic, handicap parking enforcement, speed trailer requests, and various other duties (requires attending a 3-week mini-academy, possess a valid driver’s license, and passing a state-certified driving class)
Victim Advocate - Assists victim advocates by responding with them to calls with traumatized victims, victims in need of emotional or judicial support, and assist with compensation and resource referrals
NOTE: - The Volunteer Program is comprised of civilians; not certified law enforcement. If you are certified in law enforcement and would like to volunteer in a law enforcement capacity, please join our Reserves. To apply to be a Reserve deputy, simply visit our Employment webpage and click on the Current Openings link. Also, students/kids who are interested in law enforcement can join our Explorers or JR Cadets program. To find out more details about the Explorers, click on the link below.

Requirements

Volunteer applicants must be 18 years of age and have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED.

Selection Process

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office utilizes volunteers to their potential by allowing them to work alongside agency personnel. With that, volunteer applicants undergo an application process similar to that used when hiring civilian employees. Among the process, but not limited to, are:

Background investigation, all applicants
Records check, all applicants
Criminal and drug use history, all applicants
Driver’s License check, if applicable
Polygraph examination, if applicable
Psychological evaluation, if applicable

Work Schedule

Positions are available primarily during business hours Monday – Friday. There are some opportunities to volunteer after business hours and on weekends but those are very limited and usually on a needs basis. There is no limit on the number of hours you can volunteer but a minimum requirement of 8-hours every three months must be met unless there are exigent circumstances, such as sickness, part-time resident, or other reasons approved by the Volunteer Coordinator.

Contact Information

To learn more about the volunteer opportunities with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, contact:

Volunteer Coordinator Pennie Polson (941) 747-3011 Extension 2500