The Fairfax County Police Department is accepting applications for its Auxiliary Police Officer (APO) program.

The program is comprised of an all-volunteer civilian force of 108 men and women. The trained volunteers play a vital role in supplementing the sworn personnel in essential public safety operations. They perform a myriad of duties such as staffing sobriety checkpoints and protecting the integrity of crime scenes. They also may be deployed to natural or man-made disasters.

Auxiliary police officers come from a variety of backgrounds, and enhance the FCPD with their unique sets of knowledge, skills and abilities. Currently, there are doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and reserve and retired military officers in the rich mix of APOs. A blend of retirees and employed residents, the APOs are individuals who like to learn and have the time to commit.

Once they pass a rigorous background check, accepted applicants will be required to undergo training at the Criminal Justice Academy in Chantilly two evenings a week and a few Saturdays a month during a 16-week academy, slated to begin in January 2013.

Applicants must:

•      Be at least 21 years old.

•      Be an American citizen.

•      Be in good health.

•      Pass a background investigation which includes a polygraph examination, and focuses on good finances, good driving record, good character and citizenship, and evaluation of previous drug use.

•      Have no conflict of interest: Applicants must not be employed in positions representing a potential conflict of interest, which include police officers, security guards, military police officers, civilians in law enforcement positions and firemen.

To learn more about the APO program or request an application:

• Call 703-280-0576 or
• email AuxiliaryPolice@FairfaxCounty.gov

This information was provided by the Fairfax County Police Department.