The Arlington Police Department held a special event this week to recognize the outstanding contributions of its volunteers.

More than 200 attended the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, April 7, at the Bob Duncan Community Center. Volunteer of the Year Awards were presented to nine honorees for the impact they made on the department in 2014.

A volunteer in the Central Investigations Bureau helped officers look for and rescue victims of human trafficking. Another volunteer from Technical Services Bureau placed hundreds of phone calls to residents with outstanding misdemeanor warrants. A husband and wife team worked together in the Operations Support Bureau to compile data that helped DWI Unit officers address roadway safety in hot spot areas.

In the Management Services Bureau, for example, another volunteer logged more than 700 hours filing, scanning and renaming over 25,000 paper documents in the Alarms Unit.

"It takes a special kind of volunteer to join our group,"said Management Services Director Steve Evans when announcing the Volunteer of the Year from his bureau.

"Our volunteer of the year has profoundly impacted the business operations of the APD,"he told the audience.

Chief Will Johnson said the spirit of service remains strong throughout the bureaus. In 2014, he said more than 300 volunteers contributed over 35,000 hours to their police department.

"Your contributions are invaluable to us. And because of what you do, there is a sense of pride for all we have been able to accomplish together,"he said.

Sid Huston, the Volunteer of the Year Award recipient from the North Police District, said he enjoys being a part of the APD family. He made the decision to become a volunteer in 2010 after interacting with a Citizens On Patrol member on his neighborhood street. After speaking with the volunteer, Huston logged on to the APD website and applied.

Today, he serves the department in many ways, including as a COP Mobile volunteer.

Jodi Carpenter-Nolley, the East Police District Volunteer of the Year, brings a positive attitude and valuable skills to her assignment that started about a year ago. She assists with administrative duties and helped out with the Warrant Roundup.

"I am driven to see things through,"she said. "As volunteers, I believe we can actually make things better for our community. I am proud to serve."

Click here to learn more about volunteer opportunities with APD.