Reserve Unit

The reserve unit was formed in 2001 primarily to assist the department in patrol operations and to form a hiring pool for full-time officers.  Prior to the formation of the reserve unit, the department paid to hire members of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office's reserve unit to assist the department's full time officers during University of Iowa home football game days.  The reserve unit was formed with an authorized strength of four reserve officers and was increased to ten over time.

The reserve unit is instrumental in providing policing services of the level that the community expects and there have been few major incidents and arrests since the formation of the reserve unit that at least one reserve officer has not been directly involved in.  The reserve unit was responsible for over 60 intoxicated and/or drugged driver arrests in 2005 and is very active in traffic enforcement.  The reserve unit plays a major role in department operations on home football game days as well, with some reserve officers donating eighteen hours each on these days to ensure the safety of football fans and citizens alike.

By Iowa Code, reserve officers have the same rights, privileges, duties, and obligations as regular officers do while they are on duty, and the department prides itself on maintaining one of the most active reserve units in the area.  Reserve Officers frequently ride with full-time officers or more experienced reserve officers, and once they have received the necessary training, they are allowed to patrol on their own.  Reserve Officers receive training in all facets of police work, similar to that received by full-time officers and are authorized to carry all weapons carried by regular officers after completing the necessary training.

The department is constantly looking for qualified candidates for the position of Reserve Officer.  If you are interested in serving the community and gaining law enforcement experience, please stop by or email the police department.

Reserve officers are available for hire for private events requiring security services.  Because reserve officers have statewide law enforcement authority (like all peace officers), this is not limited to functions within the city limits.  The advantages to hiring the reserve officers over private securities firms is in the level of training and the scope of rights and privileges that the reserve officers have.  If you are interested in hiring reserve officers to provide security services, please contact the Chief of Police.