Volunteers and Service
CAPS is the official public safety volunteer program for the City of Colorado Springs. It’s the 1st of its kind in the area serving three public safety departments under one umbrella as well as the portal for internships.
Qualifying Criteria:
- 18 years or older
- No felony convictions
- Applicants who have used marijuana, medical marijuana, edibles, or products containing THC within 3 months immediately preceding the date of their application submission are NOT eligible for a volunteer or intern position.
- All volunteers must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This requirement ensures our ability to complete a background investigation and compliance with applicable laws. Proof of work authorization may be requested as part of the volunteer application process.
- Minimum 6 month commitment is requested.
The volunteer application can be found at the bottom of this page.
Current Needs
Opioid Survivor Family Advocate Volunteer
Under the supervision of CSPD personnel, Opioid Survivor Family Advocate (OSFA) volunteers will provide surviving family members and direct witnesses of opioid-related deaths with immediate on-scene crisis intervention (which includes 24-hours a day, 7-days per week on-call victim assistance) and information regarding community resources.
Policy/Compliance Assistant
Under the supervision of CSPD personnel, volunteers within the Strategic Initiative Section assist with policy and compliance areas by uploading new drafts into policy software, proofreading drafts for formatting, grammar, spelling, typos, and language mechanics, and monitoring active workflows for edits, denials, and assessing timeliness of workflow reviews.
Victim Advocacy Unit
Under the supervision of CSPD personnel and the Victim Advocacy Unit (VAU), volunteer Victim Advocates provide crime victims with immediate crisis intervention, follow-up support, and information on victim rights and community resources in accordance with the Colorado Victim Rights Act.
The next VAU Training Academy is scheduled for September 13th – October 11th, 2025. Class sessions will be from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm with an hour for lunch.
Applications received after August 1st, 2025 will be considered for the following academy.
Academies includes approximately 40 hours of training, with over 20 hours of additional on-the-job training following the academy. Participants will be trained in victim advocacy skills including crisis intervention, community resources, and VAU operations. To become a Victim Advocate volunteer, applicants must be able to attend and successfully complete a VAU academy.
The CSPD will accept applications all year for VAU training academies that typically take place in the spring and fall. Volunteers may be eligible to participate in certain VAU volunteer duties prior to completing an academy.
Tour Guide
Under the supervision of CSPD personnel, volunteers will provide CSPD facility tours (Police Operations Center, 4 sub-stations) to pre-vetted community members.
Speed Trailer
Under the supervision of CSPD personnel, volunteers drive a city vehicle pulling a speed trailer to a designated area, deploy it as directed, and when notified, retrieve and return to its respective station.
CSFD Courier
Under the supervision of CSFD personnel, volunteers will deliver interoffice mail, air bottles, tanks, uniforms, and specialty items between 24 fire stations and various administrative and support locations.
VIN Verification Volunteer
Under the supervision of our Community Service Officers, volunteers will provide VIN verification service to the general public at one of our four police substations. This includes completing mandatory VIN verification training, conducting VIN verifications using Form DR2698, and ensuring paperwork is processed appropriately.
CAMERA SURVEILLANCE TECHNICIAN
Under the supervision of CSPD personnel, volunteers will work with current CSPD supervisors, officers assigned to designated patrol areas, and communications center personnel to monitor camera surveillance of the Colorado Springs area. Volunteer will report any event of significance to the designated contact person using both police radios and telephones for communication. Must be available nights/evenings only.
Chaplain
Chaplains provide the Police and Fire Departments and citizens of Colorado Springs services on a regular basis; 24 hours/7 days a week. They build and maintain an attitude of cooperation and mutual respect between the departments and the citizens. Members of the Chaplaincy Corps are on-call for counseling, consultation, and other forms of human crisis intervention. Applicants must be a full-time or retired clergy, ordained and licensed or have completed Clinical Pastoral Education.
Photographer
Do you have the gift of capturing life’s most precious moments on film? Our photographers work closely with staff and guests to capture photos of people, places and things through the use of creativity and technical abilities using photographic equipment and photo manipulation software, providing memorable and historical photographs for the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Fields containing an asterisk (*) are required. The term “not applicable” (N/A) is an acceptable response for these fields. Please read the information below BEFORE submitting your online application.
CAPS Screening Process:
- A criminal background check is performed on all applicants due to the nature and sensitivity of the work.
- An interview is conducted with all applicants.
- The successful completion of a polygraph examination may be required depending on assignment.
By submitting this application, you agree to the screening procedures and to adhere to the policies and procedures of CAPS and the City of Colorado Springs. If you are a student seeking an internship, please visit the Internship Application tab.
CAPS Qualifying Criteria:
- 18 years or older.
- Applicants who have used marijuana, medical marijuana, edibles, or products containing THC within 3 months immediately preceding the date of their application submission are NOT eligible for a volunteer or intern position.
- No felony convictions.
- A minimum 6-month commitment is requested.
