Police Reserve and Auxiliary Programs

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Police Reserves

What are Police Reserves

Police Reserve Officers are civilians who volunteer their time to a police department and do not receive financial compensation. They perform a variety of functions for a police department, some of which include assisting at fire scenes, medical emergencies, and traffic accidents; patrolling the city via the use of foot, bike, boat, horse, ATV and/or squad car; taking minor report calls; enforcing parking violations, and assisting police officers with a variety of other tasks. Often, reserve officers have arrest authority and are armed.

What are Police Auxiliary

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Similar to Police Reserve Officers, Police Auxiliary are civilians who volunteer their time to a police department and do not receive financial compensation. However, the role of Police Auxiliary can vary greatly from department to department. In some police departments their Police Auxiliary are the same as Police Reserve. In other departments Police Auxiliary perform non-enforcement and non-hazardous duties.

Find Police Reserve/Auxiliary programs

Contact your local police department and/or sheriff department and those in surrounding areas and ask if they have a police reserve program. Also, you can contact the local police training academy which does multi-agency police training and ask which departments have a police reserve program.
The following is a website which can help you locate police reserve/auxiliary programs in your area.
Volunteers in Police Service



What is the difference between Police Explorers, Police Cadets, Police Reserves and Auxiliary?

While the following descriptions generally apply, programs may vary greatly from department to department. These difference may include the ages for participation as well as the role and functions of participants.

Law Enforcement Exploring is a program designed to give insight into law enforcements careers for young men and women aged 14 - 20 through hands-on activities. Exploring is a volunteer program.

Police Cadets is a law enforcement apprenticeship program designed to provide persons aged 18 to 21 a chance to experience the challenges and rewards of a police career. Often cadets are paid and work part or full time. Cadet programs are designed to assist cadets in transitioning into the position of full time police officer.

Police Reserve Officers are volunteers that have extensive training and perform a variety of police functions and often have arrest authority and are armed. Age requirements are often the same as those for police officer.

Police Auxiliary are volunteers who, depending upon the department, may perform a role similar to that of Reserve Officers, or may perform non-enforcement and non-hazardous duties. Age requirements may vary.



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