Volunteer officers' experiences in law enforcement work in Malaysia and the USA

In: Policing: a journal of policy and practice, Band 18

Abstract

Abstract
Volunteer corps serve as vital components of law enforcement agencies worldwide, significantly contributing to community safety and well-being. This study probes the experiences of police volunteers from Malaysia and the United States of America serving as sworn officers vested with a defined sphere of legal policing authority. A rich, descriptive qualitative approach underpinned our exploration, with semi-structured interviews conducted with 18 volunteer officers – nine from each country. Three salient themes were generated: rewarding, challenging, and empowering. This study unveils a blend of shared and unique experiences in law enforcement work among volunteer officers across the two countries, shedding light on the transformative personal impact of volunteer policing. Unearthing a seldom explored dimension of volunteer law enforcement, this study offers a novel, comparative insight into the experiences of volunteer police officers. It thereby provides valuable input on an international scale to enhance our understanding of this crucial aspect of community safety.