Posted: 5/10/2012 3:48:54 AM EDT
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Can you guys give some information on reserve duty? I have been wondering about it for a couple years. |
| I was a reserve for 5 years before deciding to go full-time. Our reserves are all POST certified and can lateral after 3 years. Smaller depts sometimes require a minimum amount of training and you always ride in a 2 man car. Some regular officers kinda resent reserves but most don't. In my dept the only way anybody can tell the difference is by badge number, most of the same assignments as regular officers and must work the big special events and 24 hours a month. I like seeing the reserves come in and work on my shift. I'll take all the help I can get.. Give it shot... if you find you don't like it, you can leave it and you're out just mostly the time spent. |
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It really varies state to state and even department to department.
I've heard of RO's receiving some training but being unarmed and used mostly for traffic and crowd control (my AO). Elsewhere there's a variety of different certifications and training programs required. Everything from "breathing and vertical gets a badge" all the way to completely interchangeable with a full time academy graduate. Some get POST training, others get in-house. The degree of independence varies as much as the training. I've heard of RO's riding solo cars - typically those trained to a higher degree - and guys who have to ride shotgun with a FTer. |
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You should contact the agency for which you intend to work and check what their reserve policy is. Around here, most agencies reserves consist keeping the passenger seat warm in the patrol car, even though you are swor and wear the uniform and carry a gun. If you actually do anything is up to the guy you're riding with. I've been a reserve for a little less than a year now, but my agency actually pays me for my time (most here are volunteers) and I'm required to work 12 hours a month. I work far more than that. I've been through a full FTO program and am now on my own. I go to work and am expected to perform the same job that any other officer in my agency does. I sign out a car and handle calls (most of them, since I'm the new guy and learning) and run traffic and keep the taxpayers happy. |