Some people say that police officers are crazy. We go out looking for violent criminals for a relatively small amount of compensation knowing that being killed is a very real possibility.
You know who is crazier? People who will do it for free.
Reserve police officers and deputies are men and women who volunteer their time to chase bad guys. They put on a uniform, strap on a duty belt and go wrestle with full-time criminals. Generally they do it in addition to working a full-time job elsewhere.
Seriously, what’s wrong with them?
What is a Reserve Law Enforcement Officer
Many states have provisions for reserve or volunteer law enforcement officers. The authority of the reserve officer varies from state to state. Some states treat a reserve officer no different than a full-time officer. Other states limit their authority to on-duty and under the direct supervision of a full-time officer.
A department may, or may not, have a reserve unit. I’m not aware of any state that requires a department have a reserve unit. The department can decide to use the officers in a wide variety of ways.
Many departments use their reserve officers primarily for special events. Large events such as county fairs, football games and concerts typically require a large number of officers to help with security and traffic control. These events may strain the staffing levels at an agency, pulling officers from the road for a special event. If the department has a reserve unit to draw on, the department can ease the burden on the overall manpower levels.
Other agencies use reserve officers to augment the road officers. Frequently these officers will ride with a veteran officer. Depending on the state and department, reserve officers may graduate a field training program and patrol in a solo status.
Motivation
Reserve officers volunteer to do the job for a variety of reasons. Some see the reserves as a stepping stone into full-time police employment. Others see the work as a way to give back their community.
Classifying a reserve officer as a “wannabe” is unfair to the volunteer. The reserve officer bears all the same risks the full-time officer does without the benefit of pay and other employment benefits. The reserve is there because he or she wants to help. They should be shown appreciation for their sacrifice.
Broader Experience
One of the benefits reserve officers bring is the broad range of experience that can help an agency. Take, for example, Los Angeles PD reserve detective Marty Greeblatt who was highlighted in a recent National Public Radio article. Greenblatt, a retired attorney, volunteers about 25 hours per week investigating white-collar crime.
Greenblatt brings a wealth of legal and courtroom experience with him from his prior career as a corporate attorney. How valuable is that experience for the department? Incalculable.
Would your department be able to use an IT expert in its reserve program? How about a doctor? Maybe a chemical engineer? Reserve officers bring talents and training to the department that may make them extremely valuable in various investigations and planning. Tap into this well of knowledge.
Also, consider how much your agency could improve community relations if more members of your community were actually volunteering as a reserve officer.
My View
I started my police career as a reserve deputy with the Fulton County (GA) Sheriff’s Department. For those not familiar with the area, Fulton County encompasses most of Atlanta, plus a number of surrounding communities north and south of the city. I spent my time in the corrections division, working much of my time at the juvenile court. After I completed my law enforcement certification, I continued to work with juvenile court, though I spent a lot more time on the road collecting under-aged felons throughout south Atlanta.
Considering how short staffed the unit was, I think my participation was appreciated. I certainly learned a lot…and learned it very quickly in that rough environment. Many of the things I learned there I have applied in the years since.
Even after years in police work, whenever I leave I’ll find a good reserve unit to join. Am I crazy? Absolutely!
Stay safe!