Procedure H - Reserve Officer Program
Commission Procedure H-1

Definitions

1-1. Purpose

This Commission procedure sets forth definitions pertaining to the Reserve Officer Program which are not included in Commission Regulation 1001.

1-2. Definitions

For purposes of clarifying Penal Code section 832.6, and establishing uniformity in implementing and conducting the POST Reserve Officer Program, the following definitions apply:

(a) A Level I Reserve refers to a trained reserve officer as described in Penal Code section 832.6 (a)(1), and who is assigned specific police functions whether or not working alone [830.6(a)(1)] OR to the prevention and detection of crime and the general enforcement of the laws of this state [830.6(a)(2)] whether or not working alone.

(1) The authority of a Non‑Designated Level I Reserve shall extend only for the duration of assignment to specific police functions, as provided by Penal Code section 830.6 (a)(1).

(2) The authority of a Designated Level I Reserve, assigned to the prevention and detection of crime and the general enforcement of the laws of this state, shall include the full powers and duties of a peace officer as provided by Penal Code section 830.1. A Level I reserve is “designated” by authority of a city ordinance or a county resolution [Penal Code section 830.6(a)(2)].

(b) A Level II Reserve refers to a trained reserve officer as described in Penal Code section 832.6(a)(2), who works under the immediate supervision of a peace officer who has completed the basic training course for deputy sheriffs and police officers prescribed by the Commission, and is assigned to the prevention and detection of crime and the general enforcement of the laws of this State.

(c) A Level III Reserve refers to a trained reserve officer as described in Penal Code section 832.6(a)(3), who is supervised in the accessible vicinity by a Level I reserve officer or a full time regular peace officer employed by a law enforcement agency authorized to have reserves and deployed in limited support duties not requiring general law enforcement powers in their routine performance. Those limited support duties shall include traffic control, security at parades and sporting events, report taking, evidence transportation, parking enforcement, and other duties that are not likely to result in physical arrests. Level III reserve officers may transport prisoners without immediate supervision.

(d) Exempted Reserve means a reserve peace officer appointed prior to January 1, l979, for whom training requirements of Penal Code section 832.6 have been waived by the appointing authority by reason of the reserve officer’s prior training and experience.

(e) Immediate Supervision for Level II Reserves means the reserve officer acts under the direction of a peace officer who has completed the basic training course for deputy sheriffs and police officers prescribed by the Commission, and is routinely in the physical proximity of and available to the reserve officer; however, allowance is permitted for necessary temporary separations.

(f) Prevention and Detection of Crime and the General Enforcement of Laws refers to the peace officer authority of a Level I or Level II reserve officer assigned to investigate crime, or patrol a geographic area, and personally handle the full range of requests for police services, and take enforcement action on the full range of law violations for which the reserve’s department has enforcement responsibility.

(g) Working Alone refers to a qualified Level I reserve officer who works without immediate supervision and makes independent decisions. Two qualified Level I reserves, or a qualified Level I reserve and a regular officer, are not precluded from working together.

Procedure H-1 was adopted and incorporated by reference into Commission Regulation 1007 on July 15, 1982, and subsequently amended June 15, 1990, February 22, 1996, September 12, 1998, and July 1, 1999.