Volunteers In Partnership

Since 1981, the Melbourne Police Department has relied on volunteers to help with our many tasks. Effective crime prevention requires the support of a partnership between the police department and the community. 

The Melbourne Police Department is proud to have a volunteer workforce that helps form that partnership, and works with the department to improve the quality of life for residents of the City of Melbourne.

Volunteers work in a variety of assignments including clerical assistance, telephone contacts, vehicle transport, and data input.

Volunteer Citizens Observance Patrol (V-COP)

As an extension of the Melbourne Police Department’s Volunteer in Partnership Program, the Volunteer Observance Patrol assists the Melbourne Police Department by improving the quality of life in the community.  V-COPs form a mutual partnership with officers and employees to supplement the department’s Patrol Division, freeing the paid staff to perform other necessary duties.  This program places trained and qualified volunteers in specially marked vehicles to perform duties such as:

• Assisting citizens with disabled vehicles
• Helping direct traffic at accident scenes and during special city programs
• Patrolling neighborhoods
• Helping in non-injury parking lot crashes – assisting drivers in exchange of information
• Performing vacation house checks
• Running radar for speed violation documentation
• Serving as back-up for school crossing guards (upon state certification)
• Removing minor road obstructions and/or directing traffic around major obstructions
• Delivering equipment to traffic and crime scenes
• Recovering and labeling found property
• Obtaining and updating business emergency cards
• Parking enforcement
• Assisting in special details and events

V-COPs are trained to be the department’s eyes and ears.  V-COPs are trained volunteers only, and are not vested with any law enforcement authority.  V-COPs DO NOT have arrest power. 

V-COPs attend a forty-hour training program facilitated by the Melbourne Police Department.  The V-COP candidate will complete all aspects of the training as indicated on the program check sheet before being granted a certificate of completion  

VIP and V-COP volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and willing to donate 12 hours a month.  Information about the V-COP program and volunteer opportunities are available from Jane Meier, 409-3362, or by email.  Application forms can be accessed here in pdf format for printing or downloading.

Student Internship Program

The Melbourne Police Department currently offers a Student Internship Program (non-paying) to college students desiring to pursue a career in law enforcement and who must complete an internship as part of their academic requirements. 

Applicants must be:

• Attending an accredited college or university

• Attending an accredited college or university

• Be enrolled in a criminal Justice Program or program related to the Criminal Justice field.

• A Junior or Senior with a GPA of at least 3.0

• Internship is required for graduation

• A letter from the college or university detailing their policy on participation in an internship program.

• 18 years of age and must complete Volunteer background check.

Persons who apply for volunteer assignments in order to fulfill a school requirement or community service requirement of less than 40 hours total will not be accepted into the Volunteer Program.   Students seeking student internships less than 40 hours in duration will not be considered. 

Please contact Jane Meier via email at jmeier@melbourneflorida.org or by telephone at 321-409-3362.