(a) Creation. There is hereby created the unclassified position of reserve police officer within the Police Division. Reserve police officers shall be sworn and certified law enforcement officers who possess the same law enforcement or police powers as full-time police officers but shall perform only such police duties as are assigned by the Chief of Police and shall act only when in the prescribed uniform. Reserve police officers shall not be eligible for membership in the Ohio Police and Fire Pension Fund or the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System nor eligible for benefits available to full-time employees of the Police Division.
(b) Appointment. Reserve police officers shall be appointed by the Public Safety Director and shall be under the supervision and control of the Police Chief.
(c) Term of Service. Reserve police officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Public Safety Director, or until a resignation submitted by such officer is accepted by the Public Safety Director.
(d) Qualifications.
(1) To be qualified for appointment as a reserve police officer, the applicant must:
A. Be verified as eligible for employment by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and reside within a reasonable distance from the City, as determined by the Public Safety Director;
B. Have attained the age of twenty-one (21) years;
C. Have a valid Ohio driver's license and have a driving record that will allow the applicant to be covered under the City's insurance;
D. Submit to and successfully complete any tests requested by the Police Division including, but not limited to, a physical examination, a personal background investigation, a polygraph or VSA, or a psychological profile.
E. Be a person of high moral character; and
F. Has previously been awarded a certificate by the Executive Director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission attesting to the person's satisfactory completion of an approved state, county or municipal peace officer basic training program, or has previously completed satisfactorily or, within the time prescribed by the rules adopted by the Ohio Attorney General pursuant to ORC 109.74, satisfactorily completes a State, county or municipal peace officer basic training program for probationary or temporary officers, and is awarded a certificate by the Executive Director of the Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission attesting to the satisfactory completion of the program. If the person does not satisfactorily complete an approved basic training program within the time prescribed by the rules adopted by the Ohio Attorney General, that person shall immediately forfeit his or her position as a reserve police officer.
(2) Every person who is appointed as a police officer with the Police Division for a probationary term, as a Reserve Officer or on any basis other than a full-time basis, shall forfeit the appointed position unless the person previously has completed satisfactorily or, within the time prescribed by the rules adopted by the Ohio Attorney General pursuant to ORC 109.74, satisfactorily completes a state, county municipal or Ohio Department of Natural Resources peace officer basic training program for temporary or probationary officers and is awarded a certificate by the Executive Director of the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission attesting to the satisfactory completion of the program.
(ORC 109.77)
(e) Supervision. The Chief of Police shall have control of the assignment, training, stationing, and direction of the reserve police officers, who shall have all police powers, but shall perform only such police duties as are assigned by the Chief of Police and shall act only when in the prescribed uniform or portion of uniform. Reserve police officers shall obey the chain of command of the Division of Police and shall take orders from all regularly appointed officers thereof.
(f) Rules and Regulations. The Chief of Police, with the approval of the Director of Public Safety, shall prescribe rules and regulations governing the administration, conduct, hours of work and work rules for reserve police officers within the Police Division.
(g) Service and Compensation.
(1) All services performed by reserve police officers, except those hired under State or Federal programs, shall be on a paid volunteer basis with the City. Reserve police officers will be utilized to supplement the Police Division's day-to-day operations.
(2) Reserve police officers, except those hired under State and Federal programs, shall be paid at an hourly rate set by the Council in the annual Pay Plan.
(3) Reserve police officers hired under State or Federal programs shall receive compensation in accordance with City, State and Federal regulations.
(h) Court Duty. Any reserve police officer who is required to appear in Court as a witness as a result of his or her work with the City as a reserve police officer shall be paid by the City at the rate established by Police Division policy, for the time he or she is absent from his or her other employment. Proof of lost wages shall be in the form of a wage statement from the reserve officer's employer. To be eligible for pay for court duty under this section, the reserve officer shall apply for subpoena or witness fees and all moneys received as compensation for court service shall be turned over in full to the City.
(i) Employment Status. The position of reserve police officer is an unclassified, at-will paid volunteer position.
(j) Nonliability. This section is hereby declared to be an exercise by the City of its police powers for the protection of the public peace, health, property, safety and general welfare, and neither the City, nor any agent or representative of the City, nor any reserve police officer appointed under the provisions of this section, nor any individual, firm, partnership or corporation, nor the receiver, trustee or any other agent thereof who, in good faith, executes any executive order, rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be liable for injury or damage sustained to any person or property as the direct or proximate result of such action.
(Ord. 89-43. Adopted 06/08/89; Ord. 2022-28. Adopted 08/25/22)