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Council adopts police reserve officer job description; reserves to be unpaid volunteers with level-based duties
Summary
The council unanimously adopted a new job description for police reserve officers on Sept. 23, updating language the city said had not been revised for decades; the description outlines three levels of reserve officers and indicates level 3 officers may transport prisoners after required training.
California City — The City Council on Sept. 23 adopted a revised job description establishing the police reserve officer position, a measure staff said was necessary because many role descriptions had not been updated in decades.
Shannon Hayes, lieutenant and acting director of health and safety, told council members that the department and human resources worked with the union to create a modernized description after staff could not locate a prior, up-to-date reserve job description. The council approved the resolution adopting the job description by roll-call vote; all members present voted yes.
Key points in the job description: The document categorizes reserve officers into levels 1, 2 and 3 and lists essential duties and responsibilities across the levels. The council discussed clarifying which duties map to each level — for example, Hayes and council members said level 3 reserves "may transport prisoners without immediate supervision" after completing training required under California Penal Code section 832 and any POST-prescribed training.
Compensation and training: Council member Smith noted that reserve officers are unpaid volunteers other than being provided uniforms, and Hayes confirmed that reserves must complete training and receive on-the-job field training. Hayes said the department currently has level 2 reserve officers who had completed the level 2 academy and that reserves will also receive field training with a field-training officer.
Vote and next steps: Council adopted Resolution No. 25-3141 (as listed in the staff report) to create the police reserve officer job description. Staff said they will implement the new description, continue recruiting and ensure level-based training and supervision rules are followed. Council members requested that future materials include clearer delineation of duties by level and redlined edits when job descriptions are updated.
Bottom line: The council approved an updated job description to modernize and clarify the reserve-officer role; staff will proceed with training, supervision and recruitment under the new description.
