(A) There is hereby established a Wake Village, Texas Reserve Police Department composed of personnel who have volunteered to join the organization and whose application for membership has been accepted and who have complied with the rules, regulations, and orders provided for the conduct and control of the members thereof. Its membership shall not exceed the authorized number of commissioned officers of the regular police force. Members of the Reserve Police Department shall not be considered as employees of the city for any purposes other than supervision and control while on duty.
(B) The members of the Reserve Police Department shall be under the authority, control, and command of the Chief of Police of the city subject to all of the provisions of the ordinances of the city. Members shall be appointed from a list of eligibles compiled as hereinafter provided.
(C) A list of eligibles shall be established as follows:
(1) All applicants for positions in the Reserve Police Department must apply in writing on the form prescribed by the Chief of Police.
(2) All applicants for positions in the Reserve Police Department must meet the following basic qualifications:
(a) Must be over 21 years of age;
(b) A native-born United States citizen and an actual resident of the city;
(c) Graduate of a standard high school;
(d) Must be free of all physical and mental defects;
(e) Must be of good moral character; and
(f) Must never have been convicted of a felony.
(D) (1) Selections will be made through examinations and appointments will be made by the Chief of Police and must be approved by the City Council. All examinations shall be impartial, practical in their character, and shall relate to those matters which fairly test the relative capacity of the persons examined to discharge the duties of the position to which they expect to be appointed.
(2) All applicants successfully completing the examination shall, before appointment, be subjected to:
(a) Rigid background investigation;
(b) Fingerprint check for criminal record;
(c) A driver’s license record check;
(d) Credit rating check; and
(e) Physical examination.
(3) Failure to receive a favorable report on any of the investigations mentioned in division (D)(2) above shall reject the applicant.
(4) All applicants upon appointment to the Reserve Police Department shall subscribe to an oath that he or she will obey and observe the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Texas, and the laws of this nation, this state, and this city, and that he or she will carry out the duties of a member of the Reserve Police Department.
(E) (1) The duties of the Reserve Police Department, subject at all times to the direction, supervision, and control of the Chief of Police, shall be to assist the regular members of the Police Department of this city in the enforcement of the law, and in the maintenance of peace and order during periods of emergency designated by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police may, by order, establish rules and regulations to govern the Reserve Police Department, to fix the specific duties of its members, and to provide for the maintenance of discipline. He or she may change the orders from time to time, and he or she may command members of the Reserve Police Department to obey the instructions of regular police officers in carrying out their duties.
(2) The Chief of Police may prescribe other duties than those mentioned herein to be performed by the Reserve Police Department, not inconsistent with the provisions hereof.
(F) An identification card and other insignia or evidence of identity as the Chief may prescribe shall be issued to each new member, who must carry the card and other identification at all times while on duty, and he or she must surrender them upon termination of his or her membership. All commissions shall expire automatically at midnight on December 31 in any year. A renewal of the commission for any next ensuing year may be had by the filing of an application by any holder of any commission. The applications shall be on forms prescribed by the Chief of Police, properly filled out by the applicant giving his or her full name and address and by giving the number of his or her existing commission. This application shall be filed with the Chief of Police.
(G) If application is not presented on or before January 31 of the year for which renewal is sought, then anyone desiring the commission as a member of the Reserve Police Department shall make application as in the first instance when an applicant did not hold a commission.
(H) Membership of any person may be terminated by the Chief of Police at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the Chief. Any member may resign from the Reserve Police Department at any time, but it shall be the duty of the member to notify the Chief of Police of his or her resignation.
(I) The Chief of Police may, by order, diminish the membership of the Reserve Police Department as may be required.
(J) Members of the Reserve Police Department may bear firearms while they are discharging official duties as a duly constituted peace officer only after completing training prescribed by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education and then only by specific order and authorization of the Chief of Police.
(K) (1) Reserve officers, when on duty as reserve police officers of the city at the direction of the Chief of Police shall have all of the duties, responsibilities, and authority of a regular commissioned officer of the city, and shall exercise those duties, responsibilities, and authority as such.
(2) Reserve officers shall only operate at the time, date, and under the direction of the Chief of Police, and no reserve officer shall undertake to perform any duties as a reserve officer of the city except when directed by the Chief of Police.
(L) Each member shall fulfill the minimum training standard established by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education and such other training as prescribed by the Chief of Police.
(M) Members of the Reserve Police Department shall receive no remuneration for their services and shall voluntarily serve without pay; provided, however, that after periods of extra hazardous service or service of unduly long hours, the Chief may recommend payment to be approved by the City Council. Such payment if approved by the City Council shall be at a rate not to exceed that paid to a probationary patrol officer of the regular Police Department.
(N) In addition to the penalties provided by law, any violation of law under color of the performance of his or her duties as a member of the Reserve Police Department, any breach of the rules and regulations established by the Chief of Police shall subject any member to summary expulsion.
(O) The Chief of Police shall prescribe the uniforms and badges for the members of the Reserve Police Department and direct the manner in which the same shall be worn.
(Ord. 12-73, passed 6-13-1973; Ord. 9-74, passed 6-12-1974; Ord. 23-82, passed 10-11-1982)