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As we all know, reserve officers have other careers and sources of income. Each individual comes with a unique skill set that can benefit law enforcement. You also have retired regular officers — even retired chiefs — returning as reserve officers. As they say, “once a cop always a cop,” and many retired officers have found they can keep their irons in the fire and continue to make a difference.

With the current shortage of police personnel, many departments are offering reserve officers positions in more diverse venues. Depending on the background or occupation of the reserve officer, many are finding these duties a better fit than just patrol. Their academy and street experience are vital and necessary, but their special skills may help them shine in other capacities.

Most agencies are short-staffed and would really appreciate assistance with the following assignments.

Professional Standards Unit

This division usually handles citizen’s complaints, internal investigations and background checks. They generally report directly to the Chief of Police, as it’s the chief who’s usually determineing their mission. Agencies plagued by a lack of full-time personnel and long lead times are wise to use reserves to handle background checks, freeing up detectives to pursue other aspects of their case loads. Two southern California agencies (I’m sure there are plenty more) have been utilizing a few of their reserve officers in their Background Investigation Unit.
Fraud Investigations

In our ever-increasing digital world, there’s a lot of fraud going on: identity theft, check or credit card fraud, embezzlement and Internet fraud, to name a few. Another reserve I know who’s an attorney/private fiduciary by trade also excels in identity theft scenarios, and in fact provides free lectures to other agencies on the subject. As a veteran reserve officer with 14 years of service with the last 2 years spent working with fraud investigators, he’s proven to be an invaluable resource to his department.

SWAT Team

Many large departments have their own SWAT teams and are always in need of support personnel for special duties. A medical anesthesiologist has been working as a team medic with a Southern California police department for three years. His obvious background and occupation lends itself to the team and has been an excellent addition. Other duties in transportation, communications, etc. can also be a good use of reserve officer resources.

Family Protection Unit

Under the umbrella of a Family Protection Unit will typically be Child and Elder Abuse, Domestic Violence and Sex Offender Registration; this assignment is another golden opportunity for reserve officers. A San Diego attorney who’s been a reserve deputy for 15 years and has spent another 8 years as a reserve cop in Chula Vista, has spent the last 2 years working Sex Offender Registration. His duties cover everything from registration interviews to noncompliance issues and arrests. He also augments his duties with background checks and abuse investigations. He loves this plainclothes assignment and puts in almost 40 hours a week. This kind of help takes a huge burden off of an otherwise short-staffed division.

Police Range

If your agency has qualification shoots (whether monthly, quarterly or whatever) using reserves who excel in weapons training can help keep your qualification program running without depleting patrol resources. A retired iron worker who’s been a reserve for over 40 years is now a firearms instructor and he continues to put his ironworking skills to use by keeping up with welding and other maintenance on the range. Not only can reserves help as instructors, they can be used as gunsmiths or department armorers. They can be responsible for weapons testing for civilian and retired CCW applicants too.
These are just a few of the opportunities beyond patrol work available to you as a reserve. Utilization of your special training or expertise is good for the agency and you. Check with your local department to see what opportunities are available to you. I’ll bet you’ll find fulfillment in serving your community, and the agency will find similar fulfillment tapping into your assets.
By Doug Sherman

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COP August 2013

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GUNS

HOLSTERS

SOFT SKILLS

OFFICER SURVIVAL

WEAPONS TRAINING

EXPERTS

TAC-MED

KNIVES

STREET TACTICS

LESS LETHAL

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