Lebanon Police looking for volunteers to work for them

Published: Oct. 5, 2022 at 11:44 PM EDT

LEBANON, NH. (WCAX) - The Lebanon Police Department is looking to expand its force through volunteers.

The Volunteer in Police Service program is modeled after a national initiative that allows community members to have more of a stake in public safety. The goal is to give on-duty officers more time to focus on crime.

Volunteers are tasked with a variety of roles, like animal control, traffic counters and vacant house checks that would normally tie up police.

“The burden that has gotten placed on law enforcement over the last decade or so just keeps increasing. From homeless, mental health, just a lot of issues that we didn’t deal with 10 or 15 years ago that we are dealing with now that takes up a lot of our time. So, anything that we can solicit for help, on a lot of these non-law enforcement issues, we are all for it,” Lebanon Police Chief Phillip Roberts said.

Roberts says the program also helps bring the community and police closer together.

All volunteers must pass a criminal background check, be at least 21 years of age, and complete the required training. Anyone interested can contact the Lebanon Police Department.