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Reserve Officers: A Valuable Resource

NCJ Number
216773
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 75 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2006 Pages: 11-14
Author(s)
Karey Hedlund M.A.; Tod W. Burke Ph.D.
Date Published
December 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the benefits of reserve officer programs and describes the characteristics of reserve officer programs.
Abstract
Reserve officers are “volunteer, nonregular, sworn members of a law enforcement agency who serve with or without compensation and have regular police powers.” The main differences between reserve officers and regular police officers is that reserve officers tend to serve on a voluntary, part-time basis and they generally have other full-time careers. The many benefits of using reserve officers are enumerated and include the ability to use additional personnel without budgetary burdens. The use of reserve volunteer officers takes some of the stress off full-time personnel and helps improve the visibility of the police agency. Duties of reserve officers range from patrol duties to taking children’s fingerprints to identifying and gathering evidence. The basic elements of a reserve officer program are described, with a focus on how reserve officers are recruited and trained. Departments use a variety of recruitment techniques to attract reserve officers, such as the Internet and employment fairs. Criteria requirements for reserve officers vary by department, but generally include some sort of physical-agility testing and background checks. Reserve officers are trained according to department and State law enforcement training guidelines. Some departments require additional reserve officer training, such as certification through officially recognized law enforcement training academies or through criminal justice information classes. Endnotes