The history of the Los Angeles Police Department's Reserve Program dates as far back as World War II, when enlistment in the armed forces and the draft acutely depleted the ranks of qualified full-time recruits. As a result, the LAPD turned to the residents of the community to supplement the shortage of full-time Police Officers.

Thousands of citizens volunteered their services as auxiliary police and air raid wardens. But it was not until 1947 that the Los Angeles City Council enacted an ordinance that established a formal Police Reserve Corps. During the post war years, the newly organized Police Reserve Corps grew to as many as 2,500 Officers. In those early days, Reserve Officers provided and paid for all their own equipment and often worked together or were at times paired with a full-time Officers.

As time passed, the physical and medical requirements for Reserve Officers were upgraded to the same level as full-time Officers. An orientation was later included as part of the application process to ensure that each reserve applicant had a clear understanding of the program and its requirements.

To accommodate the required training, full-time instructors assigned to the Police Academy in Elysian Park were utilized to instruct reserve recruit classes. Through the years, additional training was added to bring the training up to the standards required by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), which establishes and oversees law enforcement training programs throughout the State of California.

The LAPD’s Reserve Program is designed to attract applicants from various professional backgrounds, and from all segments of the community. Reserves come from all walks of life, and are generally older than full-time recruits. During the day they may be attorneys, small business owners, government employees, homemakers, retirees, or even City Councilmembers. But their contributions to the community of Los Angeles are a result of their desire to make the City a better and safer place to live.

Most Reserve Officers wear the same uniform and equipment as full-time Police Officers. Some of the original badges worn by early Reserve Officers were slightly different from that of a full-time Officer, and had “Reserve Policeman” or “Reserve Policewoman” on the face of the badge. Soon, it is anticipated that the badge of the Reserve Officer will be identical to that of a full-time Officer.

All Reserve Officers undergo an exhaustive selection process, including a detailed background check, and are held to the high standards set by the Department. As a result, they are looked upon favorably by full-time Officers to the extent that full-time Officers often request to work with reserves. Many of the Reserve Officers present have been recipients of numerous commendations for their actions in the line of duty from the Department, the Los Angeles County and City Governments, and from the communities in which they live and work.

Benefits to the Community

The Los Angeles Police Department's Reserve Program gradually continues to increase its membership, and its presence is increasingly felt throughout the Department and the Community they serve. Reserve Officers are effective spokespersons in garnering support for law enforcement, and their presence in the Department provides full-time Officers with an insight into all segments of the City's diverse population.

Each fiscal year, Reserve Officers cumulatively donate hundreds of thousands of hours in their selfless service to the Department, providing several million dollars worth of donated police services to the Community. This contribution is significant, and has increased the presence of Officers in the field, and has assisted with the administrative aspects of running a Department of this size. The current strength of the Department's Reserve Corps is nearly 700 Officers strong.

Their selfless dedication to duty epitomizes the concept of community based policing. On a daily basis, they live up to the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department's Reserve Corps, “To be a Reserve is to be Twice a Citizen.”