Assistant police officers assist the police in:

• regional police work (e.g., participating in online police activities, conducting follow-up checks after cases of domestic violence, resolving disputes between neighbours, working with minors);
• prevention activities (e.g., participating in family days, introducing police activities in schools and kindergartens, and participating in prevention campaigns);
• criminal police work (e.g., collecting information and ensuring that the prohibition on entering the scene of an incident and the integrity of evidence are observed);
• border control (e.g., ensuring traffic control at border crossing points, patrolling the border, or gathering information);
• traffic control (e.g., measuring speed, participating in the ""Everyone Blows"" police raid, regulating traffic) and patrols (responding to calls);
• the service hall (e.g., teaching people how to use the photo booth, directing people to the right place, and answering their questions);
• support activities (e.g., helping to organize training sessions, writing articles for the intranet, taking photos at events, managing social media content).

In order for us to better prepare you, you need to choose an area of activity that you like and in which you will spend most of your time. If you wish, you can change your preference later. If you already have some experience as an assistant police officer, you will also have the opportunity to join the PBGB crisis reserve unit.

In order to maintain and improve your knowledge and skills, we expect you to participate in police activities for at least five hours per month. This is especially important if you wish to do field work, such as patrolling.

We will send you information via email and through group- and topic-based communication groups, which you can be added to by the group or group leader. If a group conversation does not concern you, you can always leave it yourself. Offers are usually sent by the group leader, but also by other more active members – always check who the contact person is and how to let them know you want to participate.

Keep the communication group notifications active, because in case of urgent help, it is important to respond immediately. Sometimes we can only involve a limited number of people, so the places go to those who respond first. If you have been working as an assistant police officer for some time and have established a good working relationship with a particular unit or police officer, you may also be called upon to help personally.

Before you can get involved in police work, you need to get an assistant police officer ID and a uniform with special markings. The police will provide all the equipment you need for the job. If you have any questions, you can get support from the group leader and assistant police group leaders, who will help you quickly settle in and get started.

Police work requires  you to be fully present, both literally and figuratively – if you have agreed to participate, know that you will be counted on.

Working as an assistant police officer, attending training or coaching sessions may involve travel expenses, and you are required to renew your medical certificate regularly. Please note that the Assistant Police Officer Act allows the PBGB to reimburse these expenses. The exact conditions and procedures are listed on the police intranet, which you can ask the volunteer coordinator about.

In general, working as an assistant police officer is safe, but unexpected situations can arise in police work and there is a risk of danger. Accidents at work cannot be ruled out either.

The police have several measures in place to ensure safety: patrols are carried out by teams of at least two people, training is provided (safety tactics, first aid, etc.), mandatory tests are conducted annually (e.g., use of firearms), and regular health checks are carried out.

You have a big role to play in keeping yourself safe – take an active part in training and police activities, keep yourself in good physical shape, get enough rest, and eat healthily.

If an assistant police officer dies or their work ability is reduced due to an incident related to their service, the compensation provided for by law for assistant police officers is the same as that for police officers.

As an assistant police officer, you will have many opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge. You can choose a field that suits you, such as border control activities, which require the ability to identify forged documents. If you wish, you can take on a crisis role and join the police crisis unit together with reserve soldiers – in this case, you will act in emergency situations. 

Experienced and proven assistant police officers may be given independent decision-making authority, which means greater responsibility and freedom of action. If police work proves to be your calling, you will always have the opportunity to move forward and start a career as a police officer.

• As an assistant police officer, you must behave lawfully and with dignity both in your free time and while performing your official duties, always maintaining the reputation of the police and assistant police officers.
• In your police work, you will come into contact with information that must not be shared with strangers, friends, family members, or on social media.
• Plan enough time for rest alongside your work and volunteer activities, as fatigue can impair the quality of your work and endanger your life and health as well as that of your colleagues.
• Although you are not obliged to inform your employer that you are an assistant police officer, it may be an honour and you may receive recognition or support from your employer. If you decide to join the crisis reserve unit, it is definitely advisable to inform your employer.

Important information for prospective assistant police officers is available on the website abipolitseinik.ee. With approximately 1,200 assistant police officers and 4,000 police officers in Estonia, there is a good chance you know someone who is one — they are often the best source of information. Each prefecture has a volunteer coordinator who can answer your questions.

If you have any difficulties submitting your application, the prefecture's HR staff will assist you. Please note that police officers may be out on duty instead of in the office, so they may not answer the phone immediately, and it may take them some time to respond to your email. Don't give up – be persistent and try again!