Policing TV dedicates this week to celebrating police volunteers from around the world. Millions support policing globally, yet their work often goes unseen. In this special series, contributors from six countries show how volunteers strengthen communities, increase visibility, and bring valuable skills into policing.
Highlights include auxiliary policing in Canada, youth volunteers in Scotland, community mobilisation in the Philippines, specialist investigators in the Netherlands, and reserve officers in Arizona. We also look at the growing need for volunteers with expertise in cyber, digital and fraud.
Above all, this week recognises the remarkable people who give their time and talent to support policing on the frontline and beyond.
In this second conversation with Toronto Police Service’s Sergeant Wendy Drummond, Ian Britton explores how one of Canada’s largest auxiliary volunteer policing programs is maintained, coordinated, and continually improved. Wendy shares insights into gender balance, generational shifts post-COVID, how support structures are designed to empower volunteers, and her vision for growing the program beyond its current 300 members.
This episode shines a light on how Toronto builds community trust through diverse, well-trained volunteers—and how coordination, compassion, and creativity are key to sustaining it.
Takeaways
- Toronto’s auxiliary volunteer program is gender-balanced and diverse.
- Volunteers receive specialised training in crime prevention and engagement.
- The program adapts to generational and life-stage needs of its members.
- Each division has dedicated coordinators to keep volunteers connected.
- Collaboration with other agencies boosts safety, innovation, and impact.
- Wendy Drummond’s goal is to grow the auxiliary program beyond 300 members.
Chapters
0:00 – Intro & Guest Welcome
0:30 – Gender Balance and Life Balance in Volunteering
3:40 – Post-COVID Mindsets and Changing Expectations
6:00 – Coordinating 300 Volunteers Across 16 Divisions
10:00 – Inter-agency Learning & Future Plans for Expansion
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