Ok, for those of you who saw my "dinner pic" thread a few days ago, you probably laughed because of the sticky not on my monitor that read something like "Thursday @ Noon: Starbucks w/Brian."

Anyway, I was meeting this guy there to discuss the position of Reserve Police Officer at his department. He is one of the Sgts associated with the program. So, I've had big hopes of working for this place for a while now. With all the pay and things they offered, I knew it was gonna be a great opportunity.

Well, after we had our chat, he told me some things about the program that I didn't like. One of which, shot down my entire reason for wanting to work there in the first place....being that as Reserve Officers, we can only ride on patrol TWICE A MONTH!! The rest of our time is spent working events, school functions, and the paddy wagon on the weekends.

After I got home it seemed as if everything went downhill. The one place that I really wanted to work for turned out to not be what I expected (even though they paid) and there aren't any other departments in this area that pay their Reserve Officers.


I dunno....it just seems like there is nothing to look forward to anymore. Something is missing. I'm probably gonna get razzed about this post now but I don't care. Just needed to vent.

What happens next?

Quoted: Ok, for those of you who saw my "dinner pic" thread a few days ago, you probably laughed because of the sticky not on my monitor that read something like "Thursday @ Noon: Starbucks w/Brian." Anyway, I was meeting this guy there to discuss the position of Reserve Police Officer at his department. He is one of the Sgts associated with the program. So, I've had big hopes of working for this place for a while now. With all the pay and things they offered, I knew it was gonna be a great opportunity. Well, after we had our chat, he told me some things about the program that I didn't like. One of which, shot down my entire reason for wanting to work there in the first place....being that as Reserve Officers, we can only ride on patrol TWICE A MONTH!! The rest of our time is spent working events, school functions, and the paddy wagon on the weekends. After I got home it seemed as if everything went downhill. The one place that I really wanted to work for turned out to not be what I expected (even though they paid) and there aren't any other departments in this area that pay their Reserve Officers. I dunno....it just seems like there is nothing to look forward to anymore. Something is missing. I'm probably gonna get razzed about this post now but I don't care. Just needed to vent. What happens next?

Next? You start realizing that as the new guy coming into the program, you don't get to dictate what work you want to do. You get to do a variety of tasks to help out the department. If you want to do patrol only, test to be hired on as a full time officer. You earn some respect once you're there as a reserve, you'll get some more flexibility as to what you want to do (read that... you prove yourself, you get to do more patrol)

Check with other departments. What Reserves can do varies from department to department and from state-to-state.

Here in Maine, my town allows Reserves to patrol in a marked unit, run radar, issue citations, issue criminal summons, arrest, etc etc. The only thing Reserves are not allowed to do is conduct investigations into serious crimes (such a rape or murder) and cannot work heavy PI or fatal car accidents. The only stipulation is all this can only be done for a maximum of 1040 hours a year, which equates to exactly 6 months of 40-hours-a-week work weeks.

Where are you?
What Department were you looking in to?
Do you already have a P.O.S.T. certificate?
Why do you want to be a Reserve and not go full time?

Kern County is hiring.

What's wrong with starting from the bottom and working your way up?  If you're smart, talented and work hard you won't stay doing crap jobs for long, they'll either bump you up or you'll bump yourself to a better job.

So stop whining and feeling sorry for yourself.  Take the job and show them just what a hard working, dedicated mofo you are.

I don't know you and I may be wrong, (I hope I am) but you sound like another of the 'I want, give it to me now' generation where instant gratification is all that matters.

If this is not you then good, this shouldn't bother you, if it is, then stop whining get to work and 'earn' it.


Again if this is not you I apologize, but lately I find myself surrounded by young punks who think they are 'entitled' to everything and have no idea how to, or even have the 'desire' to work for it.

I call them the 'Silverspoon retard' generation.....