Coachella Municipal Code Ch. 2.52 Police Reserve Force

There is established in the city a reserve police force, under and subject to the control of the chief of police. The reserve police unit shall consist of volunteers who shall serve gratuitously.

(Prior code § 19-27)

The police reserve force will perform their duties under the direct authority of the following:

A. The chief of police;

B. The appointed sergeant of the police reserves; and

C. The appointed officers of the police reserves.

(Prior code § 19-28)

The officers of the police reserves shall be appointed by the chief of police, and shall serve in their appointed capacities for such time as they are faithfully and truly performing the proper function of their office.

(Prior code § 19-29)

In order to effectuate the purpose of the police reserve, the chief of police may, by order, establish rules and regulations to govern the organization, including the fixing of specific duties of members, and for the maintenance of discipline.

(Prior code § 19-30)

All duties performed by members of the police reserve organization shall be on a strictly voluntary basis.

(Prior code § 19-31)

The police reserve will consist of members who are willing and able to engage in duties and training that is kept up to a minimum level of participation, as determined by the chief of police.

(Prior code § 19-32)

The number of reserve police officers shall not exceed unlimited active members.

(Prior code § 19-33)

The chain of command of the police reserve force will be organized in the following manner:

A. Chief of police;

B. The sergeant of the police reserve; and

C. Officer in charge, who shall be a regular police officer appointed by the chief of police.

(Prior code § 19-34)

The officer in charge of the police reserve will assume command of, and supervise, the duties, training and activities of the police reserve, and shall be responsible for the discharge of the administrative duties of the organization.

(Prior code § 19-35)

There will be a general meeting of the police reserve once each month, or at any time that the chief of police or reserves may deem it necessary.

(Prior code § 19-36)

There shall not be any fees, charges or dues required of any member of the police reserve.

(Prior code § 19-37)

To be a member of the police reserve, each individual must:

A. Be a loyal, patriotic citizen of the United States of America;

B. Be twenty-one (21) years of age or older;

C. Be of good moral character, free from any criminal convictions other than minor misdemeanor violations;

D. Be in good health and physical condition, and free from any defects that might make it impossible for the member to carry out assigned duties;

E. In addition to the above, each person desiring to join the police reserve must comply with the following:

1. Proper application shall be made upon forms that will be available at the police department,

2. All applicants must be willing to swear to and execute a loyalty oath as prescribed by law,

3. All applicants must be sworn in as reserve police officers by the city clerk, and

4. All applicants must comply with the proper procedure of being screened, fingerprinted and otherwise registered by the identification bureau of the police department;

F. All members shall reside in, or within a reasonable distance of the city.

(Prior code § 19-38)

A. Any member of the police reserve may terminate his or her membership at any time upon tendering his or her resignation with the chief of police.

B. Upon termination of membership for any reason, all members so doing will turn in to the chief of police all badges, identification cards, or any other evidence of membership in the reserves.

(Prior code § 19-39)

The following rules will apply in regard to the personal equipment of the police reserve:

A. Each member shall furnish, at his or her own expense, sidearms, uniform, or any other equipment required by the chief of police.

B. The specific lack of any equipment shall not restrict the training or membership activities of any police reserve officer except in those cases where the specific lack of certain equipment would not allow for the proper performance of duties.

C. In no case shall any member of the police reserve loan, transfer or otherwise lose personal control over, any police badges, identification cards or other evidence of official police authority that has been issued to him or her.

D. The official police reserve uniform shall consist of the following:

1. A sun-tan officer's shirt and Coachella police name patches;

2. A sun-tan officer's cap with black visor and black band, and official reserve badge;

3. A black necktie;

4. Sun-tan uniform trousers;

5. Black Sam Browne or sidearm belt;

6. Black sidearm holster and accessories;

7. Black shoes;

8. Reserve police officer's badge; and

9. Those reserves who so desire, may purchase the all-wool summer weight sun-tan uniform worn by regular police officers.

E. The use and wearing of the reserve police officer's uniform shall be subject to the following rules:

1. The uniform shall only be worn when the officer is on assigned duty.

2. Use of, wearing of, or displaying any police reserve uniform or badge for private purpose, or for any unauthorized purpose, is prohibited.

3. Only the complete police reserve uniform shall be worn.

4. Police reserves who do not have a uniform shall wear plain clothes when on duty.

F. The use and wearing of sidearms by police reserve officers shall be subject to the following rules:

1. A sidearm shall be carried and worn only when a reserve police officer is on assigned duty.

2. Officers in plain clothes will wear sidearms as a concealed weapon unless otherwise ordered.

3. The wearing, use, displaying and general possession of a sidearm by a reserve officer shall be accomplished in such a manner as to indicate the use of good sense, caution, restraint, and in general, to reflect favorably upon the entire organization.

4. All police reserves who wear sidearms are urged to receive the proper training, and to engage in supervised practice, so as to promote safe use and accurate proficiency with the sidearm.

G. When on assigned duty, all police reserves shall have the following equipment on their person:

1. A pocket notebook;

2. A pen or pencil;

3. A flashlight (night duty); and

4. A police whistle.

(Prior code § 19-40)

The following regulations shall apply to the performance of all assigned duties by members of the police reserve:

A. All reserve police officers of any rank shall consider themselves subordinate to and under the command and supervision of any regular police officer of the police department when the police reserve is on assigned duty.

B. The chief of police may, if so desired, appoint a regular police officer to supervise the appointed or assigned duty activities of the members of the police reserve.

C. Reserve police officers shall not perform regular police duties unless ordered to by proper authority or in case of emergency or disaster.

D. All police reserve duty shall be on a purely voluntary basis.

E. When on assigned duty, police reserves shall be subject to the following:

1. All police department rules and regulations are to be observed and followed.

2. Members shall not report for duty, or assume any duty, or wear the uniform, while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor.

3. Police reserve officers shall exercise courtesy, kindness, consideration and service for the public in all their official acts.

F. When police reserves are not on assigned duty, they shall conduct themselves in such a manner that they will not reflect to the discredit of the regular police department or the police reserve.

G. In time of emergency or disaster, refusal to assume assigned duty shall be considered just cause for dismissal from membership in the police reserve.

H. All acts of misconduct, violation of regulations, etc., will be promptly investigated and, if circumstances render it necessary, the membership of the individual concerned shall be terminated. All such terminations to be passed on finally by the chief of police.

I. Disaster service workers who are on assigned duty or are receiving authorized instructions or training, are protected in case of death or injury by the following sections of the California Labor Code: 4351, 4352, 4353 and all subsequent amendments and additions to the labor code.

J. All police reserves shall report on or off duty according to the following rules:

1. A reserve police officer shall report on duty to the person in charge at either the police station or at the designated field station.

2. A reserve police officer shall report promptly, on time, at the designated place, and if unable to do so, shall notify the assigning officer in time for a replacement to be found.

3. At the completion of a tour of duty, a reserve officer will fill out and turn in the approved officer's report form.

K. Unless there has been express and detailed approval of the chief of police, no member of the police reserve is to accept compensation for performance of assigned duties. In addition, no member of the police reserve shall use his or her membership in the organization as a basis for accepting any compensation for off-duty activities.

(Ord. 890 § 5, 2003; prior code § 19-41)

In order to become proficient in the discharge of assigned duties, and to give trained service in the event of emergency or disaster, all police reserves will engage in training activities as outlined by the chief of police and reserve police sergeant as follows:

A. Training classes in the various phases of civil defense;

B. Practical police patrol training as outlined and planned by the chief of police;

C. Firearm training under the supervision of the chief of police; and

D. All other training deemed necessary for the proper creation of a well-trained police reserve.

(Prior code § 19-42)

It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to wear, carry or display a police reserve identification card or insignia, or otherwise deceitfully represent himself or herself to be connected with the police reserve, unless he or she is in fact a member thereof.

(Prior code § 19-43)