Becoming a reserve police officer?

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BigBlock

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I recently noticed a "job" opening at my city's police department, for an unpaid reserve police officer. They don't say much on the website, other than you must complete "Reserve officer police academy", and will work along side paid deputies with firearms and driving cars.

Well, I happen to have a lot of free time, and guns and driving fast are two of my favorite hobbies. :) Also, I think the local police force SUCKS, and I could do a better job. I also think it would give me enourmous credibility if I ever have to use my gun on someone, more so than other firearms training.

That said, I've never, ever, ever, even entertained the thought of becoming a LEO. I'm just curious, before I dig deeper into this, if anyone else is a volunteer reserve officer? What kind of training do you get, and what kind of duties do you have? Do they treat you like a real cop or just a guy that helps on the weekend?
 
if anyone else is a volunteer reserve officer? What kind of training do you get, and what kind of duties do you have? Do they treat you like a real cop or just a guy that helps on the weekend?
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I am not one but I have friends that are. You get the same training as a regular cop in my local area any way. Night and weekend classes for a long time. Same duties as regular cops just less frequent as in not a 40 hour work week. treatment well depends on how much of a mall ninja you turn out to be. Some guys are real cheesey with it other guys are laid back.
 
It varies a whole from being made to meet all the requirements of that as a regular police officer, just working less hours to crowd control security guard who gets called in to assist for 4th of July Picnics and such. You need to check with your department to find out.
 
Training varies of course. Here is what I did, and still do.


40 hour state mandated firearms training course
80 hour reserve officers training course
Certified in CPR
Continual monthly classroom and firearms training


It is a very rewarding opportunity. Here are some of the things we have done.

Prisoner security at the local hospital
Assist with prisoner escorts to the department of corrections
Surveillance and stakeouts for investigations
Ride along with full time officers
Search and observation with an auxiliary air unit
Work local activities (sporting events, fairs, etc.)

Also, you will want to find out if you are responsible, financially, for any portion of your equipment. We have to pay roughly 20% for our gear, which worked out to about $700 out of my pocket.

Good luck, hope this helps some.
 
Do they treat you like a real cop or just a guy that helps on the weekend?
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Depends on the department.

Down here, reserve officers are usually people that were previously fulltime LEO's, decided to move on to a different line of work (or retire), but wanted to keep their peace officer commission active.

When I interned with the Constable's office, several of our reservists were retired fulltime LEO's that retired from local police depts, and now serve as reserve deputy constables a few days a month, to have something to do. Apparently retirement can get pretty boring.

Since our reservists tend to be experienced, they are very well respected by their fulltime colleagues.

This has me wondering a bit - anyone else?
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Yeah, that line made me think "Hmm" too.
 
i know an enthusiastic lawyer who started in a reserve program. he got out when he learned he was personally liable for his actions in the line of duty. to him it wasn't worth the liability.
 
Well, I happen to have a lot of free time, and guns and driving fast are two of my favorite hobbies. Also, I think the local police force SUCKS, and I could do a better job. I also think it would give me enourmous credibility if I ever have to use my gun on someone, more so than other firearms training.
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Forget it, your reasons for considering the job are undesirable. Just hope that no one on your police force reads your post.
 
Forget it, your reasons for considering the job are undesirable. Just hope that no one on your police force reads your post.
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Too late. Someone already did read it, then dispatched the Reserve Officers to confiscate his keyboard. :p

Doc2005
 
I also think it would give me enourmous credibility if I ever have to use my gun on someone, more so than other firearms training.
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This has me wondering a bit - anyone else?
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Uhhh...yeah. Along with:

...guns and driving fast are two of my favorite hobbies...I think the local police force SUCKS, and I could do a better job...Do they treat you like a real cop or just a guy that helps on the weekend?
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Yikes!
 
Quote:
I also think it would give me enourmous credibility if I ever have to use my gun on someone, more so than other firearms training.

Quote:
This has me wondering a bit - anyone else?

Uhhh...yeah. Along with:


Quote:
...guns and driving fast are two of my favorite hobbies...I think the local police force SUCKS, and I could do a better job...Do they treat you like a real cop or just a guy that helps on the weekend?

Yikes!
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Do they treat you like a real cop
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treatment well depends on how much of a mall ninja you turn out to be.
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well that sums this thread up!...................
 
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that most of a LEO's job involves neither guns nor driving fast.

And you say you like driving fast. Where do you do this? A race track or the freeway?:scrutiny:
 
"Also, I think the local police force SUCKS, and I could do a better job. I also think it would give me enourmous credibility"


Walk into the interview with that attitude and let us all know how it works out afterward...
 
BigBlock,

After 22 years as a full time law enforcement officer, I have noted that the career field tends to attract several different personality types. Some want to make their communities a better place while others never grew up and crave authority, guns and fast cars. I suspect from your words that you are the latter. Keep in mind that to a jury or prosecutor, extensive police training sometimes produces credibility but always produces enormous liability. Your department will meticulously document the training it provides and any deviation, real or perceived will be scrutinized beyond your wildest nightmares. This is true not only for firearms but for pepper spray, batons, hands on contact and often the very words you use. I have even seen perfectly rightous uses of force result in years of litigation only because some attorney felt it was plausible to convince a jury otherwise. I do not know the state of the department you are believe "sucks" but unless you understand the true gravity of what you are embarking on, you will represent no improvement. The police field is no place for casual window shoppers. Stay away and save your municipality the litigation.
 
+ a bazillion for all the reasons posted for you to not have anything to do with law enforcement. This wasn't a real request for info was it?:confused:
 
What kind of training do you get, and what kind of duties do you have? Do they treat you like a real cop or just a guy that helps on the weekend?
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I spent about half my law enforcement career as a reserve. The training varied in proportion to how much independence you were authorized. Initially, I had to be under the supervision of a deputy who completed the full police academy. As I gained experience and more training as mandated by state POST, I was given my own patrol car and beat to work.

You are treated like a real cop when the department and your beat partners come to realize you are serious about being a professional peace officer and act and walk the part.

Pilgrim
 
In Illinois if you have powers of arrest by your agency as a reserve or auxiliary you have to go to the same academy as full time officers.

If the agency allows officers to be armed but have no arrest authority on or off duty they can take a 40 hour firearms course. This allows the reserve to carry a defensive firearm.

My agency switched to not allowing auxiliary officers to be armed. the new chief even took our car to keep as his take home vehicle. He also took our portable radios.:cuss:

We now just direct traffic at parades and ride along with the regular officers as observers.:banghead:
 
Good lord you people really know how to take things out of context. What a bunch of *******s. :rolleyes:

I am offering to give hundreds of hours of my free time here to help the local police department at absolutely no cost. What are you doing for your community? :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Thanks to those that actually tried to help...
 
4 years as a volunteer firefighter - Corpus Christi TX

12 years as a volunteer firefighter/EMT - Virginia Beach, VA

All this was while I was on active duty in the Navy for 23 years.

Go back and read your original post. How are we SUPPOSED to take the statements that you think your local PD (who you want to work for) sucks, and that police training would give you credibility if you had to shoot someone.

We're not taking anything out of context, just reading what you wrote.
 
I'm a new member here but i have been around a few other boards for a while.

i have been a reserve deputy for the last 14 years.
reserve programs will vary from state to state
and from department to department.

generally you will be expected to assist the full time officer's as your department deems necessary.

duties are assigned based on your experience and your level of professionalism.

why would you want to work for a department that sucks?
you will be working with and depending on those officers to back you up.

if your accepted into the program your department will spend a great deal of time and money training you.
you may have a lot of free time, but its not a game.
the officers lives and livelihood are at stake

i would recommend researching your local department first.
i might be wrong but i dont think your ready for the job
 
I thougth reserve police officers were for when they had to go out and get ALOT of donuts and needed helping hauling them back to the station???


:neener::neener::neener:
 
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