MERRIMACK — The local police department is launching a new program to enable residents to volunteer at the station and within the community.

The new Merrimack Citizens Volunteer Program is the brainchild of Police Chief Mark Doyle.

“We have had a lot of interest so far. We are very excited to bring volunteers on board,” Doyle said Thursday.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to help at the station with clerical work, data entry, answering phone calls and performing other tasks within the records department. They also can help local police during emergencies, such as ice storms or floods, when more manpower is needed to handle road closures or other situations, according to Doyle.

“We would like to have at least 10 individuals on deck to help during these instances,” he said, explaining this will free up officers to respond to calls.

These are noncompensated positions, and volunteers will not be considered employees, Doyle said. However, they will still be held to high standards, and a background check will be required, he said.

Potential volunteers will be asked to complete an application and interview process to determine whether they are a good fit for the program, said Doyle.

“We want to make sure that we get the right folks in there with the right mind-set,” he added.

Initially, the program will start with about 10 volunteers, but may expand if it is worthwhile. The chosen volunteers will participate in monthly training, working side-by-side with local police officers when volunteer opportunities are available, Doyle said.

“I am sure we will find plenty for them to do,” said Doyle.

The Belknap County Sheriff's Department and the Laconia Police Department have similar law enforcement volunteer programs, according to Doyle. Merrimack police will model its initiative after these programs.

There is a national Volunteers in Police Services Program, which is designed to increase the use of volunteers in police agencies throughout the country while also helping citizens learn more about their local police departments.

Its goal, according to the VIPS website, is to help communities become safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to emergencies.

Doyle said that having a small fleet of volunteers ready to go if necessary could make a big difference during crucial times.

Anyone interested in participating in the volunteer program should contact Lt. Denise Roy at 424-3774 or droy@merrimacknh.gov.

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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.