Oroville Municipal Code Ch. 13.20 Reserve Police Force

A. There is hereby established in the city a reserve police force under and subject to the control of the chief of police. The reserve police force shall consist of volunteers who shall be known as reserve police officers.

B. Reserve police officers may be utilized to supplement normal police department strength for special events, disasters, major or unusual incidents, to fill a permanent position for an absent employee, or to temporarily fill vacant positions. Reserve police officers may be compensated at the entry level pay scale established for the specific position the reserve police officer is supplementing or replacing. They are temporary employees of the city under the personnel rules.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

A. The reserve police force will perform their duties under the direct authority of the chief of police and the appointed officer of the police department, known as the reserve coordinator.

B. The reserve police officers 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.

C. The chief of police may, by order, establish rules and regulations to govern the organization of the reserve police force, including, but not limited to, eligibility, training, classification, duties and discipline of reserve police officers.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

The reserve police force will be organized as follows:

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

B. Shall be as established by the Oroville city council.

C. The chain of command of the reserve police force shall be:

1. Chief of police;

2. Patrol division commander;

3. Officer in charge (a regular police officer appointed by the chief of police).

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

The duties and other responsibilities of the appointed officers of the reserve police force shall be as follows:

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

B. There will be a general meeting of the reserve police force once each month or at such other time or times that the chief of police or the reserve coordinator may deem necessary;

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

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

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

A. Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for citizenship;

B. Be at least 18 years of age;

C. Be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record;

D. Be of good moral character, as determined by a thorough background investigation;

E. Be a high school graduate or passed the general education development test indicating high school graduation level;

F. Be found to be free from any physical, emotional or mental condition which might adversely affect the exercise of the powers of a peace officer. Physical condition shall be evaluated by a licensed physician and surgeon. Emotional and mental condition shall be evaluated by a licensed physician and surgeon, or by a licensed psychologist who has a doctoral degree in psychology and at least 5 years of post-graduate experience in the diagnosis and treatment of emotional and mental disorders.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

All members of the reserve police force shall reside in or within a reasonable distance of the city.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

Any member of the reserve police force may terminate membership at any time upon tender of resignation with the reserve coordinator. All badges, identification cards and/or any other evidence of membership in the reserve police force shall be turned in to the chief of police upon termination of membership.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

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

A. The chief of police shall establish rules and regulations governing the issuance of weapons, safety equipment, badges, identifications and uniforms to the members of the reserve police force.

B. Under no conditions shall any member of the reserve police force lend, transfer or otherwise lose personal control over, any police badges, identification cards or other evidence of official police authority that has been issued to that member.

C. The use, wearing or displaying of any police reserve uniform or badge or identification card for private purposes, or for any unauthorized purpose, is prohibited.

D. The chief of police shall establish rules and regulations governing the use and wearing of sidearms by reserve police officers.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

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

A. Subordinance to Regular Police. All reserve police officers shall be subordinate to and under the command and supervision of any regular police officer of the Oroville police department when the reserve police officer is on assigned duty.

B. Supervision. In addition, 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 reserve police force.

C. When Regular Police Duties. Reserve police officers shall not perform regular police duties unless ordered to do so by proper authority or in the case of emergency or disaster.

D. Voluntary Basis. All reserve police force duty is to be on a purely voluntary basis.

E. General Duties. When on assigned duty, reserve police force officers shall be subject to the following:

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

2. Reserve police officers shall not report for duty, or assume any duty, or wear the uniform, while under the influence of any intoxicating liquor, or any drug, or any combination of intoxicating liquor and drug.

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

F. Conduct Generally. When reserve police officers are not on an assigned duty, they shall conduct themselves in such a manner that they will not reflect discredit upon the City of Oroville, the regular police department, or the reserve police force.

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

H. Termination of Service. In addition, all acts of misconduct, violation of regulations, and similar actions will be promptly investigated, and, if circumstances deem it necessary, the membership of the individual concerned shall be terminated. All such terminations shall be passed on for final decision by the chief of police.

I. State Labor Code. 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 applicable sections of the California Labor Code, and all subsequent amendments and additions to the Labor Code.

J. Compensation Prohibited. Unless there has been express and detailed approval of the chief of police, no member of the reserve police force is to accept compensation for performance of assigned duties. Additionally, no member of the reserve police force shall use that membership in the organization as a basis for accepting any compensation for off-duty activities.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)

It shall be a misdemeanor for any person to wear, carry or display any reserve police force identification card or insignia, or otherwise represent him or herself to be a member of the reserve police force, unless they are in fact a member thereof.

(Ord. 1511 § 2)