I agree with your assessment of reserves....I've found that once I've weeded through those folks who need a badge and gun to make up for something lacking in their egos (same process with full time officers)...that reserves make a solid asset for the department. I wouldn't operate an agency without them. I've been involved in law enforcement administrative positions for about 15 years in Oklahoma. I see a fairly widespread resistance to the use of reserves on the part of some administrators. If you know of things that can be done to counter the myths that cause that perception, I'll gladly assist with such a project. Such reluctance is unwarranted, and causing the good folks in our communities to miss out on some great benefits. I think most of that resistance stems from recruitment, supervision and management issues.
One of the things I've noted is that reserves sometime get treated as second class citizens, sometimes to the point of a complete bifurcation of reserves and full time officers. Reserves in one group...full timers in another. I've never believed in that philosophy. There is one department, not two under one roof. All are officers, equally. I integrate full timers and reserves at every opportunity. They train together, qualify together and work together.
Your description below is one of the best summaries I've seen of reserves..."Mature RLEOs with grounded professions and established families are rooted firmly in the community. " I may have to borrow than line from you sometime.
