Reserve Program

ReservesThe Reserve Police Officer is a non-paid community service position that performs an essential role within the Police Department. Reserve officers work in all facets of the Police Department, augmenting and supplementing the regular police officers in a variety of assignments. The Police Department requires an average commitment of 16 hours a month. We take into account your work schedule and family obligations. We emphasize that we put your family and job first.

Police Reserves Levels
Level II Reserve Police Officer
Personnel in this category must complete the 386 hours of the California Peace Officer’s Standards and Training, Level III and Level II Modules. Level II courses cover behavior objectives for the role of a back-up officer. Level II Reserves may work armed, uniformed patrol duties while engaged in an ongoing Field Training Program with a full-time police officer. 

Level I Reserve Police Officer
Personnel in this category must complete the 664 hours of the California Peace Officer’s Standards and Training, Level III, Level II, and Level I Modules, and 400 hours of a Field Training Program. Completion of the Level I course is considered a Regular Basic Peace Officer’s Course. Level I Reserve Officers can work alone, with another Level I Reserve, or with a full-time sworn police officer participating in assignments including:
  • Patrol
  • Intelligence
  • Vice
  • Narcotics
  • Detectives
  • Warrants
  • Personnel and training
  • Traffic
  • Crowd control
  • Emergency security at crime scenes
  • Disaster response
  • Stakeouts
  • Gang details
  • Special details
  • Other specialized assignments
Lastly, a Reserve Officer is subject to emergency call out and can be assigned to any appropriate function, depending on the emergency.

Basic Qualifications
Applicants must be high school graduates or have the General Education Development (G.E.D.) Certification acceptable to the State Department of Education. Applicants must be citizens at the time of their appointment. Applicants may file within six months of reaching 21 years of age and shall not be appointed before reaching their 21st birthday. You must indicate your date of birth on the application.

No candidate who has been convicted of a felony can be accepted for the examination. Conviction of certain misdemeanor crimes involving theft or moral turpitude may be grounds for disqualification.

Applicants must have a valid California driver's license prior to appointment. You cannot have more than three moving violations within the past three years.

You must have completed the Level III course and be currently within 4 months of completing the Level II course before your application is acceptable. The Police Department currently only hires Level I and Level II officers. Indicate on your application where and when you completed your "Reserve Officer Training Courses." If you need information concerning the ROTC, call Gavilan College at 408-848-4773 or Criminal Justice Training Center at Evergreen College at 408-270-6454.

Testing Process
The testing process has six mandatory parts, and you must qualify for each.
  • Oral Interview
  • Polygraph Examination
  • Background Examination
  • Psychological Written/Oral Examination
  • Medical Examination
  • Staff Interview
Candidates who fail any part of the testing process above will not be allowed to continue in the examination process and may not re-apply for one year.

The oral interview consists of questions, problems, and hypothetical situations designed to give the candidate an opportunity to display the kinds of behavior and skill used in the profession of a reserve officer. It is not designed to measure police science knowledge. The oral examination is pass/fail.

Candidates will be fingerprinted and required to submit to a detailed Personal History Form (PHF). A thorough Confidential Background Investigation is conducted by the Police Office to determine the candidate's fitness to hold the position of reserve officer.

A candidate will also be required to pass a thorough medical examination prior to appointment. A questionnaire covering the candidate’s medical history and present physical condition are required. Vision must be correctable to 20/20 in both eyes along with normal vision function, acuity and color vision. Normal hearing in both ears is required.

Candidates eliminated on the basis of the medical or psychological examinations may not re-apply for one year.

An employee will be required to maintain, a certificate of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid Training, Continuing Professional Training and the Police Range Qualification requirements.

For further information email the Police Reserve Office or call 408-866-2787, ext. 2057.