Police Reserves Taking More Calls for Service

November 7, 2006

Effective immediately, the Tulsa Police Department will amend its policy to allow Tulsa Police Reserves to receive calls from the Dispatch Communication Center. Chief Been and his management team are continuing to look at proactive methods to make the Tulsa Police Department more efficient and thus more responsive to the citizens of Tulsa. This change in policy with the Tulsa Police Reserve program is an example of that. These calls are limited to the following:

Parking Violations

Road Hazards

Abandoned Vehicles

Transporting Prisoners

Found Property

In addition to being assigned as the primary unit on the above calls, Reserve Officers will now be allowed to be assigned as the second unit on the following calls:

Collisions

Alarm Calls

911 Hang-up Calls

The Tulsa Police Reserve’s receive the same training as full-time paid officers, and complete a shortened version of the field-training program. These officers are dedicated to the citizens of Tulsa, are qualified to enforce the city ordinances of the City of Tulsa and are not paid for their service.

Comments

[Phil]

Reserves still can't take report worthy calls correct?

[Off. Will Dalsing]

Phil,
I think you are correct for the most part. Reserves will not be taking calls that are "report worthy." However, a found property call would have a type of report associated with it.
I think the initial announcement above is primarily directed toward letting the public know one of the ways we are continuing in the atttempt to improve our efficiency. The policy, or rules, are still being worked out.
Thank you for reading and thanks for your comments.

[Paul Tay]

Oh, BTW, do reserves need a college degree too?

[Off. Will Dalsing]

Paul,

Yes they do need a degree. The Reserves have always closely matched our requirements and still do. Thank you for your comment.

[Jim Rice]

Police Reserves should not have to have college degrees. Almost every major City in the Country that has a active Reserve police force does not require they have a college degree come on guys. Use your resources... Jim

[Off. Will Dalsing]

Jim,
I appreciate you commenting.
It is true that most reserve officer programs do not generally require the same educational requirements as ours. However, it was determined that in order to attain CALEA accreditation, it was necessary to begin requiring that TPD's Reserve officers meet the same standards as sworn officers.
In addition, the reserves receive "equal training."
We are very proud of our Reserve Officer program.
Again, thank you for reading...

[Adam]

I have considered reserve for TPD. I have the college degree and I'm an active reserve officer for a smaller city within Tulsa County. My hang-up with TPD is the following:
There seems to be a double standard when it comes to reserves. TPD requires the College Degree (which is good) and the Reserve training follows CLEET standards, as does the full time officeres. However, they are only allowed to take time eating calls that full-time officers do not want to deal with. Stolen Bikes, 911 Hang-ups (usually weather related.)
Police work is my passion, but it does not pay my bills. I make more in a different line of work.

My point is, some reserves do this as a passion, they don't do it just to take calls that full timers don't want. We like to be in the middle when a fight breaks out, we like to chase people as well. some of us do not want to be binded to a stolen bike call... If you require the same standards, following a strict policy & proceedure, qualifying on their weapons each year, reserves should be able to take any call & be primary to any call if they show up first. Change the policy and I would love to be part of your team.