The Los Angeles Police Department is looking to recruit 5,000 volunteers to run stake outs and "undercover surveillance," along with other police activities.
Ever get the feeling that your neighbors are spying on you? If you live in Los Angeles they might be.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) uses squads of volunteers to patrol neighborhoods all over the city looking for crime. "The duties have expanded from basic patrols to undercover surveillance and operating bike and horse units in the San Fernando Valley and walking the beat with officers on Hollywood Boulevard," Mark Puente reports for the Los Angeles Times. The LAPD is encouraged by the work done by volunteers, especially in curbing property crimes, and intends to expand this group.
The LAPD has asked their volunteers not to enforce the law or carry weapons, but rather to focus on reporting crimes with radios or phones, though volunteers are asked to collect evidence and in some cases check on nuisance complaints.
Police representatives concede that some volunteers have become overzealous and been dismissed from their voluntary posts, but say that the program adds vital eyes and ears to the city's police force.
FULL STORY: Want to patrol your neighborhood and go on stakeouts? The LAPD needs 5,000 volunteers
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