PHOTO BY MEGHAN ERKKINEN

Officer Don Hobbs began as a reserve officer with the Fife Police Department in 2003. He currently serves as a paid provisional officer.

Reserve officers do the work of cops – for free

By Meghan Erkkinen

“You wouldn’t go in there for a million bucks. A cop does it for a lot less. A reserve does it for free.”

These are the words on a worn poster that hangs in the Fife police station. The background image is one of a dark alley with two menacing figures in the distance.

For those who are familiar with the Fife reserve officer program, those words really sum up the dedication of the department’s half dozen officers who do much of the work regular cops do ­­– but without the financial incentive.

“It’s a big commitment because you’re not only putting yourself on the line and in danger, you do it for free,” said Commander Tim Floyd.

Most all of Fife’s reserve officers hold full-time jobs – one is a corrections officer, for example, and others are teachers, architects and soldiers. But in spite of demanding work schedules at their paid jobs, most dedicate more than 20 hours a month to patrolling Fife’s streets.

“We rely heavily on our reserves to provide the level of service that we do,” Floyd said. “The main function of reserve officers is to supplement patrol.”

Many of the reserves do that by tagging along with other officers on calls or neighborhood patrols. Many of the senior officers have the opportunity to go on patrols alone. Reserve officers are often also called to serve in paid, full-time provisional positions while regular officers are injured.

Reserve Officer Don Hobbs, who has been with the department since 2003, has been filling in as a provisional officer for more than a year. After 10 years in logging and many more in real estate, Hobbes, who is now 53, decided to join the Fife Police Department as a reserve.

“What motivated me (to sign on) the most is that I’m a helper,” Hobbes said. “In this job, you’re helping all the time.”

His status allows him to respond to calls and patrol the city on his own. A resident of Puyallup, Hobbes decided to join the Fife program because of the reputation of its reserve academy.

“Probably the coolest thing is the support we get from everybody,” he said. “If you don’t have support, you won’t have a good reserve program.”

Fife’s reserve officers all attend the department’s reserve academy, which is held once a year. The academy offers a condensed version of regular police academy courses. Classes are held Tuesday and Thursday evenings and all day Saturday for 13 weeks.

Once the training is completed, reserves are expected to dedicate a minimum of 16 hours a month to the department.

Although Floyd said the Fife Police Department has a seasoned group of reserves, they are always looking for more. In many cases, the reserve program becomes somewhat of a revolving door, as many officers are hired for full-time positions at other agencies.

The next reserve academy will begin in November. Applicants must be 21 and have a clean criminal background and a Washington State Driver’s License. Applications are due Sept. 19 and are available on the Fife Police Department website or from reserve officer coordinator Ray Ossman, who can be reached by e-mail at rossman@cityoffife.org.

Story Tools