By Assoc Prof Dr Cheah Phaik Kin

Today, we celebrate Police Day to commemorate the 216 th anniversary of the Royal Malaysia Police’s (Polis Diraja Malaysia) establishment on March 25, 1807. We honour the dedication, courage, and sacrifices of our valiant officers who have served our nation for over two centuries. We also pay tribute to the volunteer reserve officers in the Royal Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserve (PVR) (Sukarelawan Simpanan Polis Diraja Malaysia), who have been serving alongside regular police officers for the past few decades.

Recently, I had the privilege of joining the world’s most reputable scholars, leaders, and practitioners in discussing a topic that all of us were committed to, volunteer policing. The experience left me utterly amazed. I had never imagined that it would come to this when I first joined the PVR as a constable in 2014. My humble wish then was to gain experience and exposure and get involved in community work.

The *6,975-strong PVR officers in Malaysia are trained, sworn, and armed officers. Our study in 2018 on PVR roles with data drawn from their personal reflections found that they play the roles of a support officer, consultant, ambassador, and regulator. They provide support in terms of manpower and expertise to the police force. These volunteer officers are drawn from all walks of life and hold regular jobs when not on duty. But when they are, PVR officers bear the same authority as regular police officers in the corresponding ranks as stated in the Police Act 1967.

There is little research and documentation on volunteer policing in Malaysia. Being a career social scientist and academic, I saw a need to study and write about the work of PVR officers. As an academic, I recognise the importance of filling knowledge gaps. Much will be lost if there is no documentation of what we do in the PVR. Call it a job hazard, call it an itch that needs to be scratched, it is something that needed to be done.

Research in the area of volunteer policing is scarce despite police volunteer programs being prevalent worldwide. Police volunteer programs are a popular way for citizens to contribute to the safety and security of their communities. Considering the large numbers of volunteer officers who serve in police agencies around the world, the hours they work, and the cost savings to governments, more research is needed in this area to understand the impact of
volunteer policing and how it can be effectively leveraged.

Through my research, publications, and academic and non-academic activities in this field, I have met very interesting people over the years. Despite working in different cultural contexts, serving various agencies, and being located in different parts of the world, we have uncovered many similarities in our work. So we compared and contrasted volunteer policing and reported our analysis in a comparative study on volunteer policing in Malaysia, England & Wales, and the USA. It did not take us very long to create platforms that allowed us to come together and pool our resources, enabling us to tackle important issues on a grander scale. These platforms allowed us to present, discuss and study pertinent issues across different countries.

In October 2022, we gathered at the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance (VLEOA) annual conference in Kent, United Kingdom in October 2022. During the conference, I delivered a keynote speech on the topic of police integrity and the challenges of upholding it in a multicultural country like Malaysia. I postulated that while guiding principles and ethical codes of conduct exist, standards of integrity are not always clear-cut. In policing, integrity encompasses many facets in a multicultural society. I argued that maintaining integrity involves avoiding misconduct and corruption, building trust and legitimacy with the community through actions that demonstrate tolerance, kindness, consideration, and understanding, and resisting temptations to abuse the rights of the people they serve.

The writer with her colleagues from the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance(VLEOA) during a visit to the New Scotland Yard in London. From left: VLEOA International Area Director and Board Member, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr Matthew Yap; VLEOA President, Reserve Chief Deputy Professor Ross Wolf; and VLEOA Board Member, Reserve Deputy Assoc Prof Dr Adam Dobrin.

In the same conference, my comrades VLEOA President, Reserve Chief Deputy Professor Ross Wolf, and VLEOA Board Member, Reserve Deputy Assoc Prof Dr Adam Dobrin facilitated a workshop to discuss the issues revolving around the retention of volunteer officers in law enforcement agencies. One of the challenges faced by volunteers around the world is the need for more training. They could feel overwhelmed or unsuccessful without training in more strategic areas, leading to lower morale and higher turnover rates.

Another issue in retention was the lack of growth opportunities. They often enjoy challenging tasks and greater involvement to step up to the next level. They are less likely to continue their service with an organization if this sense of challenge is lacking. Giving them more interesting and challenging activities along with routine assignments is important to keep them engaged and motivated. Another overarching theme is the need for experience
management. Volunteers value the experience. Thus, a welcoming and supportive environment where they feel encouraged and empowered to make a difference is essential.

Overall, officer retention is critical for the success of police agencies. Addressing the challenges of officer retention and keeping them engaged, supported, and challenged can help agencies build a solid volunteer base.

Volunteer policing is an essential part of law enforcement. Thus, through continuous research and development, we can inform policymakers in governments and police agencies of the significance, impact, and best practices for implementing successful programmes. By doing so, we can ensure that volunteer policing continues to play a vital role in keeping our communities safe.

Happy Police Day! “Polis dan Masyarakat Berpisah Tiada”.

Police Day celebration in Perak

NOTE 1: Associate Professor Dr Cheah Phaik Kin is a full-time academician in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). She has served in the Royal Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserve (Sukarelawan Simpanan Polis Diraja Malaysia) since 2014. She also serves as a member of the Board of Advisors in the Volunteer Law Enforcement Officer Alliance (VLEOA).

NOTE 2: *Source: Department of Crime Prevention and Community Safety, Bukit Aman. Total number of PVR officers in Malaysia as of December 2022.