Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G - 42
GENERAL ORDER
RESCINDS:
SUBJECT: Civilian Volunteer & Internship Program
EFFECTIVE: May 19, 1995
REVISED: November 8, 2023
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Scope
III. Volunteer Process
IV. Duties and Responsibilities
V. Volunteer Services by Retired and Separated Employees
I. PURPOSE:
Civilian volunteers are valuable resources during emergency operations and in supplementing day-to-day
operations. Therefore, it is Sheriff's Office policy to place volunteers in non-tactical law enforcement related
support areas whenever possible.
II. SCOPE:
A. Civilian volunteers receive no monetary compensation for their assistance in Sheriff's Office activities.
Volunteer services are rendered out of a spirit of community pride and teamwork by assisting Sheriff's
Office employees in providing quality law enforcement services.
B. This directive does not address the volunteer programs of the correctional facility (as defined in
Corrections Policy and Procedures), Reserve Deputy Sheriffs and Chaplain Corps (defined in General
Order 36), or Explorers (defined in General Order 17).
III. VOLUNTEER PROCESS:
A. All successful civilian volunteer and intern applicants paid, or unpaid, will be required to complete and
submit an entire employment application that will be provided to the applicant by the Human Resources
Division. The applicant will submit to a drug screening, a thorough background investigation that
includes, but is not limited to, FCIC/NCIC, past employment/education and training verification, driver
license review, credit history, prior drug use history, arrest/conviction record, drug screen and
computerized voice stress analysis (CVSA) testing. A certified examiner administers the CVSA with
questions addressing illegal drug use and general questions of honesty and criminal history. Any
dishonesty or deception on the Pre-Screen Questionnaire or Employment Application will disqualify a
candidate’s application.
1. The Human Resources Division is responsible for notifying volunteer and intern applicants of
their selection or non-selection to the program.
GENERAL ORDER
Civilian Volunteer Program
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by the Human Resources Division.
B. It is the responsibility of the Volunteer/Intern liaison designated in Human Resources Division to
provide ID badges to all volunteers/interns, and coordinate with Technology Solutions for computer
access, if needed.
C. Volunteer/Intern files will be retained by the Human Resources Division in accordance with the State of
Florida Records Retention Schedule.
D. Community Law Enforcement Academy:
It is recommended for potential volunteers to complete the Sheriff’s Office Community Law Enforcement
Academy (CLEA). The Community Law Enforcement Academy provides participants with an overview
of Sheriff’s Office operations, policies, and procedures. The Community Law Enforcement Academy is
facilitated and coordinated by the Specialized Services Section and is held throughout the year as
necessary to accommodate the number of applicants, but generally two to three times per calendar year.
However, to become a Citizen on Patrol it is a requirement that the potential volunteer must successfully
complete the Community Law Enforcement Academy.
E. The Specialized Services Section is the initial point of contact for all CLEA applications and is
responsible for:
1. Posting of the Community Law Enforcement Academy application process and application
opening/closing dates to the external sheriff’s office website,
2. Accepting CLEA applications and screening them for completeness.
3. Reviewing a Sheriff’s Office modified background investigation completed by the Human
Resources Division which includes, but is not limited to: criminal records review, driving
history review and verification, state attorney records review, internet search/social
networking site review, fingerprints, and employment verification (as needed).
4. Developing and maintaining appropriate logs/records of applications and participation.
F. The Specialized Services Section Lieutenant or the Seminole Neighborhood Police Captain may reject
a CLEA applicant for participation in the class if:
1. The applicant has prior illegal drug use which is inconsistent with established policy.
2. The applicant has a criminal record that was not disclosed or is inconsistent with the nature of
law enforcement work.
3. The applicant has a driving record that was not disclosed or is inconsistent with the nature of
law enforcement work.
4. The applicant’s background, in its totality is inconsistent with the nature of law enforcement
work.
5. The applicant falsifies or misrepresents themselves on their application or any other personnel
record.
6. An applicant convicted of a felony will not be permitted to attend CLEA.
7. The applicant’s participation in the class would be contrary to the best interest of the Sheriff’s
GENERAL ORDER
Civilian Volunteer Program
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G. Upon approval by the Specialized Services Section Lieutenant that the application meets the
established requirements, the applicant will be notified by the Specialized Services Section of their
acceptance into CLEA.
H. Citizens on Patrol :
1. Citizens on Patrol volunteers will successfully complete the Citizen’s on Patrol Academy.
2. After completion of the Community Law Enforcement Academy, participants wishing to
volunteer as a Citizen on Patrol (COP) will submit a volunteer application provided by the
Human Resources Division.
3. The Human Resources Division will be responsible for notifying Specialized Services when an
applicant’s file is complete and ready for review.
4. Applicants selected for the Citizens on Patrol Program will be notified and provided orientation
and a class schedule by Specialized Services.
5. Applicants not selected for the Citizens on Patrol Program will be notified by the Human
Resources Division.
6. Each member is requested to volunteer a minimum number of 8 hours per month, or a quarterly
equivalent. Those hours may be a combination of patrol, administrative duties, meetings,
trainings, community events, and specialty units. In order to maintain proficiency in all
disciplines of COP training, a minimum of 4 hours per month must be in a patrol capacity, hours
must not be done exclusively in a specialty unit.
7. Citizens on Patrol are to refer to the written directive SOP-01, Volunteers Auxiliary Program for
clothing, equipment, and operations.
I. Internship Program:
1. The Sheriff's Office sponsors an internship program for students of state universities and
community colleges. The program is designed to offer law enforcement orientation to students
pursuing studies in criminal justice or a related field. The Human Resources Division is the
initial point of contact for Internships. It is clearly understood that participation in the
Internship Program is voluntary, and participants will not be entitled to any wages or benefits
for the time spent in the program as the internship is merely an extension of the educational
program of the administering college or university unless specifically selected for the Program
Internship (Paid Internship Program) in which an offer was distributed. Participants
understand that there is no guarantee of employment upon the completion of the program.
a. The volunteer liaison within the Human Resources Division will make all
assignments. This will be based upon division’s need and the intern’s course of study and
availability.
b. Interns will be under the direct supervision of Sheriff’s Office employees who are
knowledgeable and experienced in the duties the intern will be performing or
observing.
c. The assigned component liaison will be required to verify intern participation hours
and be required to evaluate student performance d