Volunteering has always left Glen Newton fulfilled.

As a double-duty volunteer, Newton meets all kinds of people. He is a volunteer theologian at his church, and he also runs the office at the Factoria Bellevue Police station. The former U.S. Navy Seal helps officers with paper work and is often a go between for the people coming in for help and the police trying to assist them.

“It’s a lot of fun to be able to help people by giving them guidance, or maybe just helping people calm down,” he said.

Newton is one of countless hard-working volunteers who help the Police Department go. This week, Bellevue police is showing its appreciation to volunteers by letting them try out some of the cutting-edge technology. Monday, volunteers strapped into bomb squad outfits and watched a simulated explosive disposal. Throughout the week, volunteers were toured a virtual firing range, and the department’s forensic labs.

At the virtual range Tuesday afternoon, four volunteers got a taste of the life-or-death decisions they have to make. Volunteers practiced on the 180-degree virtual range that employs real weapons, without ammunition, a practice that saves thousands of dollars. After target practice, they were sent through a scenario were various individuals entered a room. Some were armed, others weren’t, and it was up to the volunteers to decide when to take a shot.

“If someone is determined to shoot at you, you can’t get your shot off first,” said Officer Yong Lee, lead firearms instructor for Bellevue police. “All you can count on is your judgment and tactical advantage.”

Since 1994, Bellevue Police volunteers have served in excess of 167,000 hours, equivalent to more than $3.5 million in labor value. In 2011, volunteers contributed over 8,000 hours working a wide range of assignments throughout the Department. Volunteer Police programs enable expanded services like operation of the Crossroads and Factoria police community stations, pick-up and processing of found bicycles, and disabled parking and fire lane enforcement, which frees officers to focus on proactive law enforcement activities.

“These volunteers are here week after week, year after year, and we consider them to be part of our police family just like any other staff member, maybe even more so because they are here without benefit of a paycheck,” said Marji Trachtman, Bellevue Police volunteer coordinator. “They are here simply because they believe in the Department’s mission and want to support the work our officers do, and our officers truly appreciate that.”