Police Volunteer Unit

​The Police Volunteer Unit (PVU) falls under the Special Operations Bureau and is made up of people who live in our community and want to give back to the City of Cape Coral. The Cape Coral Police Department is proud to have many residents of our city serving as civilian, unsalaried volunteers to assist in day-to-day duties and to improve police-related services to the community. Members of the Police Volunteer Unit are not commissioned with sworn officer status and do not perform duties that require a sworn-officer, but perform a vital role in support of sworn police personnel.

Volunteers first attend classroom and on-the-job training to become members of the PVU. They are assigned to one of three PVU divisions: Road Patrol, Marine Patrol and Administration.

The PVU Patrol Division patrols the streets of Cape Coral, assisting with the enforcement of non-moving violations including handicap parking, fire lane parking, median parking, parking on a sidewalk, and parking in front of a fire hydrant. Patrol Division volunteers do vacation house checks, direct traffic at crashes, and other duties to help the police department keep this community safe. They also work special events such as Red, White & Boom and the Coconut Festival. Patrol Division volunteers also make deliveries to the court system in Cape Coral and Fort Myers.

Our Marine Unit Volunteers patrol the waterways. They locate, report and/or remove obstructions, and educate citizens on water safety, boating etiquette and applicable laws. They also help Marine Officers as needed and participate in citywide special events.

Administration Volunteers help with community outreach programs and staff the Information Desks at Police Headquarters and at City Hall.

In 2023, the PVU put in 36,328 volunteer hours for an approximate payroll savings of $684,802.34 for the city. 

Police Volunteer Application

If you are interested in becoming a Police Volunteer, click here for the Police Volunteer Unit application below, follow the instructions on page 1 and bring your completed application to the Cape Coral Police Department. If you are unable to print the application, you can come to the Cape Coral Police Department headquarters at 1100 Cultural Park Blvd. and fill out an application. You may also call the Police Volunteer Unit at 239-242-3346 for more information. Applicants must complete an interview, be fingerprinted and must pass a background check. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid Florida driver’s license. Full-time Lee County residents are preferred. 

Vacation House Check

As a courtesy to the people of Cape Coral, the Police Volunteer Unit (PVU) offers complimentary checks of residences while owners are away on vacation. These checks are provided to combat and/or uncover criminal activity while residences are left unattended. Vacation House Checks are only offered to single-family residences and duplexes; this courtesy is not extended to condominiums, apartment buildings or realtor-owned properties. The PVU is able to accommodate a maximum of 30 days each calendar year to each residence. The owner is required to have a designated individual with access to the residence (key holder) in case access is necessary. If you are requesting a vacation house check, please complete the shaded area of the downloadable form below, then email it to ccpdvol@capecoral.gov.

If you are unable to complete the form, please email ccpdvol@capecoral.gov with the following information: 

• • • Name of owner requesting check
    • Address of residence to be checked
    • Phone number
    • Email address
    • Name of keyholder
    • Phone number of keyholder
    • Date leaving town
    • Date returning

    • Any additional pertinent information (vehicles permitted on the property, existing damage to the property, etc.) 

Click here to download the Vacation House Check Request Form