NCJ Number
136621
Journal
Law Enforcement Quarterly Dated: (May-July 1992) Pages: 20-22,27
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
More than 250,000 private citizens in the U.S. donate millions of hours a year to State and local law enforcement agencies as volunteer police officers, also known as reserves or auxiliaries. Surprisingly, however, there is little research or literature on police reserve programs around the country.
Abstract
In California, the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) has strict training requirements for three general categories of reserve officers. Level III officers do not perform general law enforcement duties and have no off-duty law enforcement powers; Level II officers perform general police duties under the supervision of a higher status partner; and Level I officers are either designated reservists who work on their own and are Statewide peace officers around the clock or are non-designated officers who have no off-duty powers. In San Diego, the sheriff's department is the largest reserve operation, with 320 reserve deputies in the law enforcement, search and rescue, and support services units. In general, reservists are praised as dedicated volunteers and budget-savers; for example, they receive no salary and must buy their own uniforms and equipment.