LAPD is Looking for 5,000 Volunteers to Help Police Neighborhoods

The Los Angeles Police Department is looking to recruit 5,000 volunteers to run stake outs and "undercover surveillance," along with other police activities.

1 minute read

August 2, 2019, 10:00 AM PDT

By Casey Brazeal @northandclark


LA Crime Scene

jondoeforty1 / Flickr

Ever get the feeling that your neighbors are spying on you? If you live in Los Angeles they might be.

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) uses squads of volunteers to patrol neighborhoods all over the city looking for crime. "The duties have expanded from basic patrols to undercover surveillance and operating bike and horse units in the San Fernando Valley and walking the beat with officers on Hollywood Boulevard," Mark Puente reports for the Los Angeles Times. The LAPD is encouraged by the work done by volunteers, especially in curbing property crimes, and intends to expand this group.

The LAPD has asked their volunteers not to enforce the law or carry weapons, but rather to focus on reporting crimes with radios or phones, though volunteers are asked to collect evidence and in some cases check on nuisance complaints.

Police representatives concede that some volunteers have become overzealous and been dismissed from their voluntary posts, but say that the program adds vital eyes and ears to the city's police force.

Friday, July 26, 2019 in The Los Angeles Times

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