- Preparing for a law enforcement Career
- Types of Law Enforcement Jobs
- Explorer Programs
- Police Cadet Programs
- Police Auxiliary/Reserve Programs
- Criminal Justice Schools
- Finding a Law Enforcement Job
- Planning Your Job Search
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Job Openings
- Law Enforcement Associations
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
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. 
