PRAIRIE VILLAGE, KS (KCTV) -
An area police department is looking for a few good men and women, but not to be full police officers.
The police force in Prairie village is relatively small with just 48 officers tasked to cover the city. But supporters of a program designed to help bolster the force say it is paying off.
The next time a call comes into the dispatch center at Prairie Village police headquarters it may not be a typical officer heading out to handle the problem.
"I just thought it would be a great way to start giving back a little to the city I love living in," said Tom McMahon, who is one of two Volunteers in Police Service officers serving the city.
Police Chief Wes Jordan created the program.
It has volunteers, like McMahon, handling issues like helping stranded drivers or monitoring traffic near school zones so the rest of the force can handle more serious calls.
McMahon admits at first he got a lot of curious stares from people around town.
"Get a lot of questions about what is it that you do. Also get a lot of questions about the car. You drive a PT Cruiser. Some people think it is funny, some people think is cool," McMahon said.
But Sgt. Byron Roberson, who oversees the program, says it is already proved to be a major asset.
"When a school crossing guard has to call in sick normally would send an officer to do that, but now we can send a volunteer instead," Roberson said.
The volunteer program has been so successful the department is looking to expand the program.
Right now, they have two volunteers who each put in about 20 hours a week. Roberson hopes to double that number over the next few months.
If anyone is interested, they don't have to be a resident of Prairie Village. They just need to complete the citizen's training academy that will take about eight to 10 weeks.
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