Reserve Officer

[fermi]

Hello,

What are the requirements to become a reserve law enforcement officer? I was thinking it might be fun and a good way to serve the comunity.

[sgtbuck]

There are a few different types of Reserve Officers in California. The best place to find out what you need and what it takes go to the following site and it should answer most of your questions.
California Reserve Police Officers Association

http://crpoa.org/

http://www.post.ca.gov/Training/Reserve_Peace_Officer_Program/

[djack12]

it depends on what level reserve you want to be. You can do a modular academy and become a level III reserve after you complete the level III modular. My department requires a full academy as well as a full FTO. Our reserves a Designated Level I reserves with 24/7 peace officer powers.

[loyalgunfighter]

Modular academy sounds good. Do you think there are other department unlike yours that will take a level III reserve especially in San Diego? Thanks.

it depends on what level reserve you want to be. You can do a modular academy and become a level III reserve after you complete the level III modular. My department requires a full academy as well as a full FTO. Our reserves a Designated Level I reserves with 24/7 peace officer powers.

[JJKESSEL]

Departments differ. The best thing to do would be to check with the department that you would like to volunteer (or get paid) for.

Some departments will pay, some will not. Some pay different for the different levels. You can alway take a look here for reserve positions available:

http://www.post.ca.gov/Hiring/Job_Opportunities/

Good luck.

[djack12]

I would at least try and be a sworn level II reserve. More powers, plus most departments will issue their reserves a CCW so they can carry 24/7. level III reserves are allowed very minimal duties. Here is a quick break down on what the different levels consist of.


LEVEL I
830.6 (a) (1) PC
832.6 (a) (1) PC
24 hours* or only for the duration of the person’s specific assignment
GENERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Same as Regular Officer (Determined by the agency)
Regular Basic Course (664 hours)**
Field Training Program (400 hours)
CPT (24 hours every 2 years)

LEVEL II
830.6 (a) (1) PC
832.6 (a) (2) PC
Only for the duration of the person’s specific assignment
GENERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
LIMITED SUPPORT DUTIES:
May work assignments authorized for Level III Reserve Officers
Immediate supervision by a peace officer who has completed the POST Regular Basic Course
Without immediate supervision
Modules III and Modules II (333 hours)
CPT (24 hours every 2 years)

LEVEL III
830.6 (a) (1) PC
832.6 (a) (3) PC
Only for the duration of the person’s specific assignment
LIMITED SUPPORT DUTIES:
Traffic control, security at parades and sporting events, report writing, evidence transportation, parking enforcement and other duties that are not likely to result in physical arrests. May transport prisoners without immediate supervision.
Supervised in the accessible vicinity by a Level I Reserve Officer or a full-time Regular Officer employed by a law enforcement agency authorized to have reserve officers.
Module III
(144 hours)

* Agencies may appoint a Level I Reserve Officer (who has completed the POST Regular Basic Course) to full 830.1 PC powers and duties (24 hour) by authority of a city/county ordinance/resolution (830.6 (a) (2) PC).
** The POST Regular Basic Course may be satisfied by successfully completing an Intensive, Extended or Modular Format.

[franco802]

As a heads up, the level II academy at Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA is more like 596 hours, not 333 (unless it's changed). Mabe that's a level II requirement I guess, 333 hours minimum?

For our department which is SDSO, you also have to complete 400 hours of FTO training as a level II. You can do everything a full time Officer/Deputy can, except patrol by yourself. You can transport prisoners by yourself, work special details alone (depending on the detail), much more to do than a level III. Level I or II is the way to go.

[Tallship]

As a heads up, the level II academy at Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA is more like 596 hours, not 333 (unless it's changed). Mabe that's a level II requirement I guess, 333 hours minimum?

For our department which is SDSO, you also have to complete 400 hours of FTO training as a level II. You can do everything a full time Officer/Deputy can, except patrol by yourself. You can transport prisoners by yourself, work special details alone (depending on the detail), much more to do than a level III. Level I or II is the way to go.

Level II at Grossmont is now 415 hours, and with Level I at Southwestern it's close to 700 (or more) hours.

[sgtbuck]

As a heads up, the level II academy at Grossmont College in El Cajon, CA is more like 596 hours, not 333 (unless it's changed). Mabe that's a level II requirement I guess, 333 hours minimum?

For our department which is SDSO, you also have to complete 400 hours of FTO training as a level II. You can do everything a full time Officer/Deputy can, except patrol by yourself. You can transport prisoners by yourself, work special details alone (depending on the detail), much more to do than a level III. Level I or II is the way to go.

That 333 hr academy sounds low to me too for a Level II Academy.

Level II is cool but I always say go for the whole thing and become a Level I. Nothing in the world like working your own beat car. Plus you can go full time without going through another Academy.

Just remember know mater what level Reserve you are be papered for long hours and very hard work. You will work your full time job all week. Then on Friday after a long day at your regular job you will put on your uniform, badge, gun and go get checked in, get your unit and work another 6 to 10 hours. Oh and then it never fails at the end of your shift you will pop a felony DUI and end up doing paper the rest of the night. Weekends off kiss that good bye. Most Saturdays you will be working ether a day or night shift or special detail. Most of the time you might get Sunday off. Then Monday comes and the week starts all over again. My Department required 30 hrs a month patrol for a Level I Reserve. That was the MINIMUM you were to work. Most of us worked well over 60 to 80 hours a month. I worked one year over 1200 hours.

It takes a lot of dedication and motivation to be a good Reserve Officer.

Good luck and if you really want it you will do it..........

[We Are Apocalypse]

Are Friday nights the normal nights available for Reserve officers?

[sgtbuck]

No most Departments will let you work when you’re available unless you volunteer to work an assigned detail. Most Departments want their Reserves to work the busy nights such as Friday nights, Saturday days and Saturday nights. We augment the full time officers by putting more Cops on the beat when needed most. So yes you could work Mondays but they might also require you to work some Friday and Saturdays.

Also please check with the Reserve staff for the Department you want to go to. They may have different ideals. I am a Retired Reserve Sergeant and the info I am giving you was how I ran my Squad of Reserve Officers and how most of the programs in my area operated. In San Diego there is even a Reserve Commanders association that meets once a month.

[franco802]

Level II at Grossmont is now 415 hours, and with Level I at Southwestern it's close to 700 (or more) hours.

Wow, things must have really changed there. I remember it being over 550+ hours, close to 600. I even heard at one time they had removed the pt portion of it. But I believe they brought that back.

[Tallship]

Wow, things must have really changed there. I remember it being over 550+ hours, close to 600. I even heard at one time they had removed the pt portion of it. But I believe they brought that back.

Yeah, they brought back the PT even for Level III.