Advice for a friend

[RobertN]

I am a volunteer firefighter, and really support that program.

But I am not so sure about a volunteer LEO program... Around here, they have a STAR program. Those volunteers will help with an incident, taking information and stuff. But they don't have weapons or make arrests. "STAR -Sheriff痴 Team of Active Retirees. is a senior volunteer who has agreed to assist the El Dorado County Sheriff痴 Office with their responsibilities and serve the citizens of El Dorado County. "

He also didnt want to be pushed around by the officer. The new sheriff here really helped our county out after some direction, and they really need to do some more refining on the volunteer policy.

 

[KennethBrown]

Really hate to dig this old thing up but had to comment. I hold a Peace Officers liscence here in Texas. I had to go through the entire police academy program and had to maintain my training. All of that and I was never paid, always volunteer. I worked 5 yrs as a Deputy and 4 yrs as a Patrolman. Here we have to have the same training and skills as regular officers. In the rural areas volunteers make up probably 20% of the work force. Some are like I was- young and wanting to get a start. Others retired from big city life and settled down in the country only to find out how valuable their help could be. 95% of all towns under 7500 have volunteer fire depts. Don't knock all of us.

 

[dcyrilc]

Really hate to dig this old thing up but had to comment. I hold a Peace Officers liscence here in Texas. I had to go through the entire police academy program and had to maintain my training. All of that and I was never paid, always volunteer. I worked 5 yrs as a Deputy and 4 yrs as a Patrolman. Here we have to have the same training and skills as regular officers. In the rural areas volunteers make up probably 20% of the work force. Some are like I was- young and wanting to get a start. Others retired from big city life and settled down in the country only to find out how valuable their help could be. 95% of all towns under 7500 have volunteer fire depts. Don't knock all of us.

Nothing wrong with volunteers. There's good and bad in every crowd. You just hear more about the bad ones.