Some of the skills you will need to perform
the duties of a LAPD Reserve Officer will be taught to you
in the Academy, and some will rely on traits you bring with
you to the position. We urge you to consider the entire
job of Reserve Police Officer and not just the exciting
or glamorous aspects.
What follows is a realistic preview of
the types of tasks required of all Los Angeles Reserve Police
Officers. They are intended to give you a better understanding
of the job and allow you to determine your willingness and
ability to perform the job.
This list is not intended to describe every task required
of a Reserve Police Officer.
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Reserve Police Officers
are required to fill out many different forms, logs,
and reports. Therefore, Officers must write legibly,
have a good working knowledge of English grammar, sentence
structure, vocabulary, and spelling, and be concise,
descriptive and thorough in all written documents. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must testify
accurately and credibly in court regarding arrests,
reports taken, evidence recovered, and victims’
statements. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers constantly
communicate with members of the community. It is crucial
to initiate contact with members of the community to
better understand the needs and problems of a particular
area. Reserve Police Officers must possess excellent
communication and interpersonal skills to interact with
the public. They must interview and obtain information
from victims and witnesses of crimes in a manner appropriate
to the situation and culture of the people involved.
Many such encounters can be unpleasant. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers meet with
and make presentations to groups of residents and/or
business people from various neighborhoods regarding
local crime, traffic, and related problems. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must evaluate
situations, determine whether a crime has taken place,
and make an independent decision as to what action is
appropriate. In doing so, the Officer must simultaneously
consider numerous factors, recognize patterns, and develop
theories based upon available information and evidence. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must volunteer
2 shifts per month. During the shifts, roll call training
will be provided and vital information is given about
planned activities, suspects, suspicious activities
and crimes in their area. Officers must organize this
information for use during their shift as well as plan
and complete their activities and paperwork in a timely
manner. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must pay
attention to details, noticing minute elements or components
of a particular person or crime scene. Officers must
be able to visualize and recall an event after the fact
in order to construct documentation of the event, possibly
for future court testimony. Officers also recognize
and gather evidence at the scene of a crime, and they
are responsible for the safe storage and transportation
of this evidence. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers are required
to learn and memorize large quantities of complex and
detailed material, including Penal Codes; legal terms;
LAPD procedures and policies; Health and Safety Codes;
Laws of Arrest; Search and Seizure Law; Laws of Evidence;
and more. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must be able
to operate a Mobile Digital Computer (MDC). Officers
must use the keyboard and special function keys using
LAPD call codes and computer language to access the
various types of information needed. Officers also use
the MDC to receive assigned coded calls and communications
from other units. Officers must be able to accurately
initiate and respond to clear, precise communications
over the MDC. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must use
problem solving and reasoning skills to initiate innovative
solutions to difficult and unique problems, which are
faced while on duty. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers resolve
citizen conflicts such as business, neighbor, family
and traffic-related disputes. Officers must separate
the parties involved, interview them, try to calm them
down, and mediate a solution to the problem. These disputes
can be loud, emotionally charged, combative and time-consuming.
|
| • |
Reserve Police Officers monitor and
control crowds at scenes where tensions may run high,
such as picket lines and demonstrations. Officers must
observe crowd behavior and communicate with group leaders
to keep peace and order among those gathered. Groups
are often disrespectful and antagonistic toward the
Police. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must exhibit
leadership by taking control of situations, inspiring
confidence, and providing a positive example for others. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must use
their interpersonal skills to calm distraught persons,
subdue angry or combative persons, and coax uncooperative
persons into providing information. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers may be involved
in numerous physically demanding
activites. These may include.
- Pursuit of suspects in a police
vehicle or on foot
- Walking foot patrol
- Controlling crowds
- Physically searching suspects
- Performing rescues by dragging
or carrying victims
- Physically subduing and detaining
combative suspects
- Performing CPR and first aid
procedures
- Serving arrest or search warrants |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers Level I, II and Level
III must be able to use firearms in a proficient manner. After Academy
training, Officers are required to prove their continued proficiency
with firearms by qualifying at the Academy periodically. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must be
able to respond to calls for help by using directional
information such as north-south, left-right, and so
on. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers work in
all parts of the City, under all types of conditions,
with all types of people. Officers may be required to
search and/or touch suspects who are dirty, neglected,
injured or bleeding. Officers also may be required to
enter buildings or establishments that are unsanitary
or structurally unsound. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers, after establishing
probable cause, must detain and/or take suspects into
custody. This involves use of Department-approved techniques
and equipment such as verbalization, control holds,
batons, guns, and handcuffs to physically subdue suspects
while treating them with as much dignity as possible
and using the minimum force necessary. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers typically
work with a partner. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must be
able to work under a great deal of pressure and at times
endure substantial criticism. Yet Officers must maintain
a clear head, a positive attitude, and a solid work
ethic. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers deal with
a wide variety of people. Officers must remain open-minded,
fair, unbiased, and sensitive when dealing with people
of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers may voluntarily
work any hour of the day, or any day of the week. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers are representatives
of the City of Los Angeles.
They are also symbols of stability and trust and must
always behave ethically and resolve moral conflicts
appropriately, both on and off the job. As a Police
Reserve Officer, the Department and public view and
hold you, as an individual, to a higher standard. More
is expected of a Reserve Police Officer than is expected
of most people in other career fields. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must observe
the chain of command and have a duty to follow lawful
orders. |
| • |
Reserve Police Officers must be
prepared to use force when required in the lawful performance
of their duties, including deadly force when necessary. |
