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You can become part of the St. Petersburg Police Department by volunteering for the Road Patrol or Parking Enforcement Specialist Unit. Road Patrol What began as an experimental program in 1996, has developed into a very essential element of the police department. Road Patrol volunteers handle many non-criminal duties of the police officers, making available more time for the officers to investigate serious criminal activity and respond to dispatched calls quicker. Specially equipped vehicles are assigned to Road Patrol and are fully supplied with the necessary items needed to complete the responsibilities of the job. Road Patrol assists the police department by tagging and impounding abandoned vehicles, often recovering stolen vehicles in the process. They transport found property to designated locations within the police department. They help disabled motorists and may assist in traffic direction at vehicle crashes and fire scenes. Volunteers are also trained to issue tickets for such violation as various types of illegal parking; fire lane violations; vehicle street storage, etc. The placement, activation and return of the roadside radar detection units is also a duty for the Road Patrol volunteer. A Road Patrol applicant is required to successfully complete 40 hours of training. Instruction may include but is not limited to: defensive driving, personal health and safety, police radio communications, computer report writing, city geography, as well as familiarization with applicable Florida State Statutes and City Ordinances.
Parking Enforcement Specialist Unit The Parking Enforcement Specialist Unit, a separate unit of the Road Patrol is comprised mostly of disabled persons who, after completing the volunteer application and training requirement, patrol in their own vehicles, citing parked vehicles that violate disabled parking regulations. A mileage reimbursement program is provided by the city to compensate for fuel usage. The police department provides uniforms to both the Road Patrol and Parking Enforcement volunteers. This gives the volunteers a more professional appearance, making them recognizable as a unit of the St. Petersburg Police Department. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Road Patrol or Disabled Parking Enforcement Specialist programs, contact the Road Patrol office of the St. Petersburg Police Department. Volunteer Road Patrol Office Phone: 727-893-7141
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