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Reserve Officers Unit
• Reserve Police Officer (volunteer, non-paid position)
This is NOT a civil service position, and this application does not fill the requirements for application as a regular police officer. Applications available at Des Moines Police Department, 21900 11th Avenue So., Des Moines, WA 98198 or click here to download.
For further information on the Reserve Officer Unit email Sgt. Bob Bohl at bbohl@desmoineswa.gov or call (206) 870-7611.
The City of Des Moines does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disabilities in any of its programs or services.
General Information:
Citizens become Reserve Police Officers for two primary reasons. Many individuals are interested in a law enforcement career, and this position serves as an opportunity to explore and advance towards that career. Second, citizens are otherwise employed and wish to volunteer with the community in an exciting and meaningful way.
Position Description:
• Des Moines Reserve Officers perform uniformed patrol duties in support of the Des Moines Police Department. Their primary mission is to augment the full time police force. The position is entirely voluntary, and is at the full discretion of the Chief of Police or his designee.
• Reserve Police Officers are sworn and commissioned personnel with law enforcement authority and powers.
• Officers perform general duty police work in the protection of life and property through the enforcement of laws and ordinances.
• Officers are responsible for the protection of life and property, prevention of crime apprehension of criminals, and the general enforcement of laws and ordinances.
• Work is performed in accordance with departmental rules and regulations and normally consists of routine patrol, preliminary investigation, and traffic regulation duties which may be performed in police cars, bicycle, or on foot.
• Work involves an element of personal danger and police officers must be able to act without direct supervision and to exercise independent discretion in meeting emergencies.
• Field work includes exposure to emergencies and individuals who may be distraught, violent, or abusive.
• General and special instructions are received from the police sergeant or designated supervisor who reviews work methods and results through reports, personal inspection, and general discussion.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
• Reserve Officers are required to commit to and complete a minimum of 25 hours each month in department approved activity.
○ Officers who are in the field training program must complete 24 of the required
25 monthly hours on active patrol duty.
○ Officers who have completed the field training program must complete 12 of the
required 25 monthly hours on active patrol duty.
○ The balance of required monthly hours must come from department-
approved activities, such as training, court, community events, and other
activities as approved by the department.
○ Officers are required to attend regularly scheduled in-service training sessions.
• Officers are required to be available for 24/7 on call and callout to special details and emergencies. Callouts are rare, and mandatory callouts are almost unheard of. The department requires all commissioned personnel to be available for callouts in the event of a large scale incident, such as a natural disaster.
• Des Moines Police Department provides all Reserve officers with department issued uniforms, duty gear, duty handgun, boots, soft body armor, insignias, commission cards, badge, TASER conductive energy devices, OC pepper spray, radios, and flashlights.
• Reserve Officers are currently required to pay all fees associated with completion of the required academy.
• Achieve, demonstrate, and maintain minimum department standards of proficiency and performance in accordance with policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the department.*
• Patrol a designated area of the city on foot, by police vehicle, or by bicycle to preserve law and order, to prevent and discover the commission of crime and to enforce motor vehicle operation and parking regulations.*
• Answer calls and complaints involving fires, automobile accidents, robberies, domestic violence, and other misdemeanors and felonies.*
• Prepare case reports and testifies in court.*
• Administer first aid, conducts preliminary investigations, gathers evidence, and obtains witnesses at the scene of a crime.*
• Arrest, search, transport, and confine offenders.*
• Interview persons with complaints and inquiries, and attempts to make the proper disposition or direct them to proper authorities.*
• Give advice on laws and ordinances and general information to the public.*
• Exercise powers of arrest and control; defend self and use force and deadly force.*
• Operate a city vehicle under normal and emergency conditions.*
• Respond to crime scenes and perform criminal investigations.*
• Participate in special operations.
• Interact with community in a positive manner to cooperatively reach resolution of community needs and to foster positive, effective, and lasting relationships between the community and police department.
• Maintain good physical condition, agility, and coordination to allow performance of the essential tasks of a police officer.*
• Other duties as assigned.
• The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
*Essential Job Functions
Necessary knowledge, abilities and skills:
Knowledge of:
• Modern approved principles, practices, and procedures of police work.
• State, county, and city laws and ordinances.
• First aid methods.
Abilities:
• Ability to become thoroughly familiar with the policies, procedures, rules and regulations of the department pertaining to all matters that come within the area of responsibility.
• Ability to demonstrate and maintain hand-eye coordination and fine-manipulation skills which are necessary to discharge a firearm and operate equipment, a vehicle, computers and a variety of office machinery.
• Ability to address all violators in a firm, courteous manner in order to develop public respect and confidence in the officer and his department.
• Ability to speak and hear to exchange information.
• Ability to understand and execute moderately complex oral or written directions, and to prepare clear and comprehensive written reports.
• Ability to perform the physical aspects of the job such as sit for prolonged periods of time, walk, run, jump, crawl, squat, physically restrain combative individuals, lift and carry the body weight of another person, and climb.
• Ability to acquire a good working knowledge of federal, state and local laws and ordinances which are enforced by the municipal police department.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relations with other city employees, other city employees, other law enforcement agencies, civic leaders, and the general public.
• Ability to acquire a good working knowledge of effective, modern methods of crime detection and criminal identification.
• Ability to apprehend, and make forcible arrests of violators.
• Ability to safely and legally operate police and other vehicles.
• Ability to deal with the public in a courteous and firm manner and familiarity with common mental and social problems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and to restrict the use of such information to work duties.
• Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
Education and experience:
• High school diploma or GED.
Minimum Qualifications:
The following are minimum qualifications for the position of Reserve Police Officer:
1. Candidates MUST successfully complete a testing, evaluation, and appointment process which may include, but is not limited to, written examination, oral board interview, medical evaluation, psychological evaluation, polygraph examination, background investigation, and a Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission approved Reserve Officer Academy.
2. Candidates must be able to successfully complete the Field Training Program and probationary period as prescribed by the Department.
3. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age prior to appointment and be a United States citizen.
4. Candidates must hold a valid Washington state drivers license and provide proof thereof prior to appointment.
5. Candidates must have a valid high school diploma or equivalent.
6. Candidates must meet department drug use standards.
7. Candidates may not have any previous felony convictions, and no misdemeanor convictions within the last five years.
8. Candidates must be able to perform the essential job functions of a police officer.
9. Candidates must be non-smokers.
