Reserve Police Officers

**kvesi122** · 08-21-2012, 07:04 PM

Feel free to bash me about asking this but how do departments view reserve police officers? I'm thinking of going through Reserve Officer training this January. I'm not doing this as a cowboy/feel cool job but I've been interested in becoming a police officer for a few years now and this is the best way to attend college and still gain some experience. I will be applying for sponsors over the next few weeks (I provide the funds but the sponsoring dept needs to approve the gear that I purchase).

Thanks for any input!

Kevin

**ochmude** · 08-21-2012, 07:14 PM

Some departments only hire full timers from the reserve ranks.

**Roland Deschain** · 08-21-2012, 07:20 PM

In some of the smaller towns, they are a vital part of the department, and you will get out of it what you put into it.

**kvesi122** · 08-21-2012, 08:42 PM

I put as much effort as I can after classes. I would be using this to test the waters and see if it is a good fit for me in addition to helping serve the community. The more I look into it the more interesting the idea becomes.

**LenS** · 08-21-2012, 08:52 PM

Some towns will only appoint residents. Some use them as slave labor only and treat them very poorly. Other towns have an excellent program and treat them professionally.

You need to interview them or talk to "boots on the street" to get a real view of how they are used, respected or not, etc. I wouldn't hesitate to stop a cop on the street and have a chat . . . assuming you can find an officer that isn't merely zipping by in a cruiser.

I served as a Reserve PO for >15 years for a small municipality. Some officers treated us well, others shit on us as did two chiefs (out of 3 that I worked for).

I worked as an Auxiliary PO (no powers, no weapons) at a major ivy league college in the Boston area. I worked with a few Aux. POs from Wayland and that department seemed to really have it together. Wayland tried to recruit me but I lived too far away for that to be practical or I would have jumped on it.

**WPDC13** · 08-21-2012, 09:23 PM

Ive been full time for 8 out of my 12 years and seriously consider going back to PT on a daily basis..............

**kvesi122** · 08-21-2012, 09:29 PM

Why do you not like being a full time? If you don't mind me asking that is.

**Roland Deschain** · 08-21-2012, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by kvesi122

Why do you not like being a full time? If you don't mind me asking that is.

It's hard to put into words. Read the site more.

**greeniron** · 08-21-2012, 09:58 PM

I am a Reserve/Auxilliary Officer and have been one for 10 years. In my town RO/AO are not permitted to do any work or details in any way shape or form, unless its free for the Lions Club or there is a declared disaster even then they will not get paid. Buttttttt the town does have whats called "special" PO's. These positions are given to members of the Board of Selectmen and other "Friends" of the BOS. There are allowed to do paid traffic details and have NEVER been to any academy at all most of them couldnt run more than 10 yards if they had to and couldnt hit the side of a barn with a shotgun.....from the inside.
All RO's/AO's have to take 242 hours of training on their own time they have to provide their own weapon and buy their own ammo for quals as well as buy their own duty belt and accy's. None of the RO/AO in town are allowed to be "specials" either. The only compensation they get is once every 4 or 5 years they get to go to Wrights Chicken Farm for dinner.

**kvesi122** · 08-21-2012, 11:38 PM

I completely understand the funding part. I'm not in this for any kind of compensation either. Just a learning experience. I figured I should get a computer science degree at college and have that to fall back on if being a Police Officer isn't a good fit.

Reserve Police Officers

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