Here's something I've been thinking about,  being a Pattaya Tourist Police volunteer.  I'm a retired military paramedic, living in Thailand for the past 15 years, and have a decent understanding of the language and Thais/foreigners. "Working" a few days a week helping tourist and seeing some action up front seems better than sitting home or in the bars.

 

Anyone have insight to being a Tourist Police volunteer? TIA.

No insight but a question

Seeing that the Tourist Police are not part of the Royal Thai Police would you get dispensation from Immigration (who are) to work under say a "retirement" extension or would you have to obtain a "volunteer or B Visa" and get a Work Permit.

You should go back 5 or 10 years and check some of the posts about foreign tourist police volunteers, they've never been flavour of the month among posters on here.

Johnny No Mates.

1 hour ago, Guderian said:

You should go back 5 or 10 years and check some of the posts about foreign tourist police volunteers, they've never been flavour of the month among posters on here.

Posters here are the least of my worries...555.

I don't think they are operating at the moment? They were pretty much out of work since 2020 when the party was shut down by Covid.

 

When they were in action, beyond visa-exempt entry and Tourist Visa, there were no immigration restrictions on who could apply to become a TPV and there was no special work permit either. Background checks were carried out. A working knowledge of spoken Thai was handy.

 

If their main office is still on the way up Pratumnak Hill, maybe the OP should drop by and ask?

 

The RTP on Soi 9 @ Beach also have Foreign Police Volunteers (FPV).

 

https://www.fpvpattaya.com/

IIRC there were two groups of police volunteers, one of them led by H.E. Colonel Colov, Night of Rizal, Blessed by the Pope. They used to wear all black storm trooper uniforms and had tool belts with more kit than the average SWAT team member. They disappeared from view when Covid struck and hopefully that was the end of it.

Other than a craving for power like the rest of the members of that illustrious organisation, I can't imagine why anyone would want to join them. Most normal people just want to relax, enjoy their retirement and leave the real police work to our hosts.
They remind me of school prefects.

33 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

I don't think they are operating at the moment? They were pretty much out of work since 2020 when the party was shut down by Covid.

Yes I think you are correct wrt Tourist Police Volunteers, the others, Foreign Police Assistants, still help at the Police Stations, mostly translating. Tourism must be picking up as the ones in the station tell me they are getting busier, and there are more zany goings on. 

4 hours ago, foreverlomsak said:

Seeing that the Tourist Police are not part of the Royal Thai Police

Thailand's Tourist Police are part of the RTP!   Volunteers don't become police officers, though.

37 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

IIRC there were two groups of police volunteers, one of them led by H.E. Colonel Colov, Night of Rizal, Blessed by the Pope. They used to wear all black storm trooper uniforms and had tool belts with more kit than the average SWAT team member. They disappeared from view when Covid struck and hopefully that was the end of it.

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Howard Miller, former leader of the Tourist Police Volunteer posse?

The Tourist Police are operating at night on Walking Street from a desk they have set up; you could ask them directly how to proceed.

Good luck to you. I believe these volunteers are a valuable resource.

If you get hired, be sure to advise Indians wearing gold necklaces to remove them.????

Edited June 2, 20224 yr by champers

I was an ambulance paramedic until I retired her 10 years ago. I noticed that nearly every batch of newbies had a failed copper in it. You know, starched his uniform, carried the mag light holstered, wore aviators, etc.. Couldn't get into the cops 'cos they recognised the guy was a over the top nut job, so, not giving up on their dream of power, they tried something else in a uniform.

They never lasted long.

I've met a few tourist police in Pattaya, and Udon, where I live. More than a few remind me of the losers who joined the ambos.

Just my observations.. 

 

27 minutes ago, jesimps said:

Other than a craving for power like the rest of the members of that illustrious organisation, I can't imagine why anyone would want to join them. Most normal people just want to relax, enjoy their retirement and leave the real police work to our hosts.
They remind me of school prefects.

I'm far from being on a power trip,  I just figure donating a few hours a week is a good thing, beats surfing the web all day and hitting the bars at night, eh?  I was a passenger in my expat friend's car when he was involved in his car vs  Thai motorbike accident on the Darkside, and in all the chaos a expat in civilian clothes showed up and help with police/ambulance/insurance stuff, turned out he was a Tourist Police volunteer. Very helpful in that stressful situation.

If I find they're a bunch of guys full of them selves, parading around in a uniform with more belt attachment than Batman just for show, I'll pass.

A lot of negative responses here,why?

Sure there will be a few wannabees amongst the volunteers but they get washed out

pretty fast.

Ninety five % of the work you will be doing is helping to translate.

There are volunteers all over Thailand but the ones in Pattaya are the most busy.

In the high seasons it was a real busy job with a lot of violence,mostly people who could

not handle their alcohol.

Over all i think the volunteers are a real asset to the RTP.

 

35 minutes ago, sungod said:

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Howard Miller, former leader of the Tourist Police Volunteer posse?

He left Thailand.

I commend you for wanting to do some civic duty and help.

 

My experience with asking for help from the volunteers has been very positive.

 

I know they get a bit of flak from some here, but most reasonable blokes will see they do a pretty much thankless task. This includes the Immigration volunteers having to deal with a fair percentage of morons.

 

 

????

4 hours ago, foreverlomsak said:

No insight but a question

Seeing that the Tourist Police are not part of the Royal Thai Police would you get dispensation from Immigration (who are) to work under say a "retirement" extension or would you have to obtain a "volunteer or B Visa" and get a Work Permit.

Tourist Police ARE a division of the RTP with full police authority and duties, Immigration is also a division of the RTP.  You do NOT have to have a volunteer visa ( ID card issued by Tourist Police )  most FTPA ( Foreign Tourist Police Assistant ) foreign people are retired ( not necessary from police work. ) Multiple languages are a asset.  You buy your uniform, shirts ( mostly tailor made ) and any other PPE that is approved. - NO Stun devices or body armor

The benefits are that you can usually help, in some way, a tourist that gets in trouble or acts a fool in a foreign country

52 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Thailand's Tourist Police are part of the RTP!   Volunteers don't become police officers, though.

Apologies for wrong info, I didn't know that in Sept 2017 they were "enveloped" into the RTP, prior to that they were part of the Sports and Tourism Ministry.

My comment was really intended as a query on the status of the individuals "extension of stay" and need or not for a work permit.

55 minutes ago, lahgon29 said:

I was an ambulance paramedic until I retired her 10 years ago. I noticed that nearly every batch of newbies had a failed copper in it. You know, starched his uniform, carried the mag light holstered, wore aviators, etc.. Couldn't get into the cops 'cos they recognised the guy was a over the top nut job, so, not giving up on their dream of power, they tried something else in a uniform.

They never lasted long.

I've met a few tourist police in Pattaya, and Udon, where I live. More than a few remind me of the losers who joined the ambos.

Just my observations.. 

 

...we all don't dream the same dream...their intentions hopefully are/were good.

No work permit needed - ID Card issued, No extra extension of stay ""bonus"".

Several government programs issue ID Card so no work permit needed.  I also taught English under a program set up by Thailands Late King - ID card issued

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Thailand's Tourist Police are part of the RTP!   Volunteers don't become police officers, though.

Then it should be clear that there nothing more than translators. And me - as a German - speak English in Pattaya. No need for a German volunteer ever to come close to me. 

7 hours ago, bbko said:

Pattaya Tourist Police volunteer.  

Is there such a thing. 

 

I've never seen foreigner volunteers working at the tourist police station or out and about. 

 

They do have foreign volunteers at Pattaya Police Station soi 9.

 

https://www.fpvpattaya.com/

 

They take applications on this site. 

 

Edited June 2, 20224 yr by SAFETY FIRST

They could use some Indian ones on the streets between 00:00 and 06:00.

I often wonder if people would still be so keen if the uniform was a yellow t-shirt with smiley face, with "Tourist assistant" printed above it.

2 minutes ago, Satcommlee said:

I often wonder if people would still be so keen if the uniform was a yellow t-shirt with smiley face, with "Tourist assistant" printed above it.

I would wear that t-shirt with pride,that is exactly where the volunteers are for.

 

48 minutes ago, worldexpress said:

They could use some Indian ones on the streets between 00:00 and 06:00.

Particularly necklace detectives in Pattaya.

You also have the Highway Police Rescue which I was in for a few years.

10 minutes ago, sabian said:

You also have the Highway Police Rescue which I was in for a few years.

In Pattaya?