Law Enforcement via security

[BoyInBlue]

Just seeing who here is interested in law enforcement...

[GCMC Security]

how about just Former LE, not retired

[Lawson]

Hmm... Current Reserve LE, do security on duty and LE Off duty

[sgtnewby]

Reserve LE for seven years, 1996 to 2003, in private security at the same time, now security for county hospital for 5 years.

[N. A. Corbier]

Ok, I've wondered about this. Talking with Derick002, I found out that "reserve police" in Minnesota are totally different than what I'm used to. A Reserve Police Officer to me is a volunteer who works as a sworn law enforcement officer when "on duty," and patrols with another full-time professional sworn officer, or works with another sworn reservist.

The "reserve program" described to me would be called a "Volunteer in Policing" or "Auxiliary Police" force to me. Non-sworn, no enforcement authority, handling minor problems and providing visible patrol.

[Lawson]

Out here a Reserve Officer is a commissioned Police Officer who may patrol with a full-time officer, or Solo. They have the authority to arrest and cite within their jurisdiction and may be paid or unpaid.

[SecTrainer]

Out here a Reserve Officer is a commissioned Police Officer who may patrol with a full-time officer, or Solo. They have the authority to arrest and cite within their jurisdiction and may be paid or unpaid.

They have to complete an academy of some sort, don't they?

[LPGuy]

In Washington, reserve police officers complete a part-time academy that runs for approximately the same length of time as the full-time academy (4+ months). I'm not sure what the hours of instruction are for each academy, however. Upon completion, they are a commissioned law enforcement officer as BHR Lawson stated.

N. A. Corbier, I understand that "reserve officer" has different meanings in different states, with some being similar to Washington and others being what you described, which is more of a non-sworn auxiliary volunteer position.

[LPGuy]

[. . .]"Volunteer in Policing" or "Auxiliary Police" force to me. Non-sworn, no enforcement authority, handling minor problems and providing visible patrol.

In addition to commissioned reserve officers, I know of at least one city in the area that also has what they call ViPs (or volunteers in policing). These are non-sworn citizen volunteers, who patrol in a marked ViP vehicle and provide additional presence and notify the police if they observe a crime. I understand that they complete some sort of "citizen's academy."

In addition, this same city also provides their police explorers with marked "police explorer" Ford Crown Victorias, and the explorers will also conduct patrols in certain venues or during events.

[Lawson]

In my old PD as Explorers we drove this...



Police cars look like this...



We didn't actually have a "ViPS" but we had "Senior Patrol" which were Senior Citizens 55 and older who did things like attend a booth at fairs, walk in parades, do vacation house checks, etc... They drive a police car that has the old stripes on it.

I've seen quite a few agencies with ViPS cars. I am relatively sure ViPS is a National Foundation.

As far as the Reserve Academy goes in Washington, it is a minimum of 220 hours of instruction, with most academies providing more.

[N. A. Corbier]

Now for the fun question: Why do police explorers need police cars, even with amber lights?

[Lawson]

Now for the fun question: Why do police explorers need police cars, even with amber lights?

Now for the fun answer. For traffic control, parades, mock scenarios, transportation of Explorers, Public Relations, Public events, fairs, carnivals, security patrol details, the list goes on...

[acrand]

Out here a Reserve Officer is a commissioned Police Officer who may patrol with a full-time officer, or Solo. They have the authority to arrest and cite within their jurisdiction and may be paid or unpaid.

As long as they are on official duty. Reserve Police Officers in the State of Washington are only commissioned while they are on duty. When off duty, they have not police authority, unlike regular full time commissioned police officers who can exercise Police authority 24 hours per day, on duty or not.

[N. A. Corbier]

Now for the fun answer. For traffic control, parades, mock scenarios, transportation of Explorers, Public Relations, Public events, fairs, carnivals, security patrol details, the list goes on...

Security Patrol details? Were you guys LFL? The concept of the Lacey Police department using children to perform security duties frightens me.

[Lawson]

Were not talking about children, we're talking about mature young adults. Most of whom were of legal age to be a Security Guard anyway. There was never an issue, and all security details were under tight scrutiny.

For the 16 and 17 year old Explorers I have worked with, most of them I would trust more than most Security Guards I have worked with. Lacey spends a lot of time filtering through their applicants to get only the people they can truely trust. It is a full hiring process less of a Poly/psych/PT, but there is an application, NCIC check, Reference check, 2 oral boards and a couple other steps.

They are not "children" by any standard of professionalism or sense of duty.