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Editor's Notebook: How Many in the Department?
By Rich Grassi
I ran a pair of death notices last week of officers who died in the line of duty. The day after the wire ran, I received an email from a part-time officer. He called me on the carpet because I reported that the department consisted of three officers - info I'd gotten from the news.
He felt I ignored the outfit's part-time and reserve officers. I didn't, as I was unaware they had a reserve or part-time officer program. Not all agencies do.
But he said "part-time and reserve officers seem to get forgotten yet they risk no less."
Amen. I found myself relying on the judgment, skill and knowledge of a reserve officer my first week on the job. Back then, it wasn't "go to the academy, then FTO for six months or a year, then go to work." Back then it was, "find a uniform that fits, you have a gun, don't you? Go to work."
I've been happy to have reserve officers around on many occasions. I've known many part-time officers, a number who were full-time on our outfit and working a part-time police gig to make ends meet.
As we come up on a holiday weekend, those reserves and part-time officers will be out in force, doing the same things the full-timers did - the reserves doing it for no money at all.
We've had a few reserve officers work the range with us; Myron Stucky most recently and Harry Carpenter some years back. Harry has forgotten more about guns and shooting than I'll ever know. Myron's dedication was legendary and he was a quick learner, picking up on changes and implementing them without pause.
Part-time and reserve officers are a vital part of our police community. They are dedicated and unselfish.
They risk no less. They aren't forgotten by me.