The Volunteers in Police Services initiative program began in November 1997.

The Volunteer Program is intended to supplement and assist departmental entities in achieving departmental goals. It is the purpose of the program to assist the department in the delivery of services to the community. This is accomplished by creating a partnership with citizen volunteers willing to assist the Knoxville Police Department in achieving the goals of the organization. Volunteers In Police Services Unit has grown tremendously thanks to the dedicated and caring citizen volunteers who give of their time and effort to assist their police department and community.

Volunteers assist in areas such as Volunteer Coordinator Assistant, Organized Crime, Central and West District Investigations, Training Unit, Citizen Police Academy, Crime Analysis Unit, Safety Education Unit, Safety City, Major Crimes Unit, Criminalistics Unit, and many departmental and community activities.

Over 3,700 volunteer hours were donated in 2006 by 87 volunteers.