The Police Reserves are a group of volunteer citizens who are interested in serving the City of
Tigard to make it a safer and better community. Reserve officers will primarily supplement
the Patrol Division field forces, performing those duties regularly carried out by the Division.
Reserves may also be used to assist the Investigation and Records Divisions, and to
perform any assignment, at the direction of the Chief of Police.
Reserve officers function under the authority of the Chief of Police. While working
as a Reserve officer, they are under the direct supervision of the shift supervisor.
Reserve officers are bound by the same policies and procedures as are the Regular
Officers.
What does it take to be hired?
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Reserve officers must meet the same basic appointment requirements as that of Regular Officers
and go through the same selection process. Cost of physical and psychological tests in the
hiring process will be covered by the City. Reserve officers are volunteer personnel and may
be dismissed at will.
All candidates must have the following qualifications:
- U.S. Citizenship
- At least 21 years old
- Possess a valid Driver's License
- High School graduate or GED
- No felony convictions
- Vision not worse than 20/200 correctable to 20/20
- Must pass a physical exam administered by a physician
- Must pass the Department's physical agility exam
- Must pass an oral board, written exam, and background investigation
No official of the City of Tigard, whether appointed or elected, may be a member of the
Tigard Police Reserve.
The testing process for Reserve Officer is the same as that for a regular officer. The
prospective Reserve completes a basic City of Tigard application form and submits this to Human
Resources (during open recruitment) or to the Reserve Coordinator (during times between
open recruitment). From this, the applicant is invited to sit for a written examination,
then an oral interview, a typing evaluation, a physical capability/agility test, a
background investigation, a Chief’s interview, a psychological evaluation, and a
medical evaluation.
Tigard Police typically recruit for vacant Reserve Officer positions at various times
throughout the year. The process is dictated by the need to fill open, authorized
positions. Interested individuals are encouraged to contact the Police Reserve
Coordinator, Lt. Tom Freedland. He can be reached at 503-684-4997, x1684 or by email at
29117@tigard-or.gov.
What is the written exam like?
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The written exam is a multiple choice test usually from the State that is designed
to assess the knowledge of the applicant needed to work in the capacity of a police officer.
This includes report writing, logic, vehicle operation, and map reading. This is basic
information, and does not require any specific police training or orientation. There
are several practice tests that are available through bookstores that can give the
applicant a “taste” or feel for what may be on the evaluation, but these are no
guarantee of the material that will be on the test.
What is the oral interview like?
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The initial oral interview involves answering a series of questions presented by other
members of the department, both reserve and regular in an interview setting. Part of
the process is to get to know the applicant and assess his thought process. There may
be situational questions and general information questions.
What is the physical agility test?
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The physical agility test is designed by the State and called the “ORPAT.” This has become
the standard for most law enforcement agencies and involves performance of a series of
physically challenging procedures in close proximity which may reflect actual encounters
in law enforcement. Several websites are available that provide information on the test,
what is involved, and what times are passing.
ORPAT Video: http://www.oregon.gov/DPSST/AT/ORPAT.shtml
What is the background investigation?
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The background investigation involves the applicant completing a packet of material
identifying prior employers, contacts, recapping any potential conflicts with the law,
and a review of the driving record. Certain incidents may be completely barring, felony
arrests or a recent bad driving record could be problematic. The investigation looks
at the individual as a whole trying to determine if there are areas where the
applicant’s credibility may be brought into question.
Download the background investigation packet here.
What is the Chief’s interview?
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The Chief’s interview involves a short meeting with the Chief or the Assistant Chief to
review information on the background, and again, another opportunity to meet and
interact with the applicant to see how he/she will fit in with the department.
At this point, the applicant may be offered a conditional appointment; thus, allowing
the medical and psychological evaluations. The medical evaluation looks for general
health issues that might compromise the performance of the officer. The psychological
evaluation looks at several factors of the applicant, not only to ensure that the
applicant is “sane” but that he/she displays good logic and has a profile that would
interact well with other members of the department.
Additionally, the psychological test has several parameters that will assess the
individual’s response and ability to complete the field training program.
If all phases of the process are satisfactorily completed, the applicant is then
offered a position as a Reserve Officer.
Applicants are enrolled in a Reserve Academy normally operated by one of the County
Sheriffs’ offices. The Academy typically meets on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and
Saturdays over a five-month period and imparts over 300 hours of training following a
curriculum that is similar to the regular police academy held in Monmouth, Oregon.
Reserve Officers in the Academy learn aspects of patrol procedures, laws of arrest,
traffic enforcement including drunk driving, response to in-progress call officer
safety issues, emergency vehicle operations, and other areas of training that are
reflective of conditions they will meet in the field.
Following graduation from the Academy, the Reserve Officer is then assigned
to work with a senior Reserve Officer or a regular Field Training Officer
and goes through a field training process similar to the regular officer
utilizing the same training manual. With time and experience, the Reserve
Officer takes on more and more responsibilities. At the trainee level,
the officer is required to work all assignments with a more senior department
member. As the Reserve progressed, the officer may work solo assignments
requiring minimal supervision, and on some occasions, they advance to solo
patrol status where the officer is allowed to work a patrol shift and respond
to calls “on the beat,” in a fashion similar to what regular officers do.
What are the monthly requirements?
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Reserve Officers are required to complete a minimum of two patrol shifts and one
meeting per month for a total of 20 hours minimum per month. Many officers will
work more than that.
Reserve Officers find the position as one where they can give back to their
community and support the community they care about. Others will use it as a
trial program to see if law enforcement is a career they would like to pursue
and will continue using it as a stepping stone to a full-time assignment.
Reserve Officers are required to provide their duty belt and equipment on the
belt, including a firearm. The department will provide ammunition. The department
is now providing the Reserve with a ballistic vest and replacement at set times.
The weapon of choice for new members coming into the department is a Glock handgun
chambered for .45 caliber, .40 caliber, or 9 millimeter; the duty weapon is the
financial responsibility of the Reserve Officer. The Reserve is provided with
one pair of pants, a long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirt, name tags, a Reserve
badge, and a department issued baseball cap.
The application process for the Tigard Police Reserves can be done in two ways.
- If there is an active recruitment in progress (coordinated through Human Resources)
an application may be completed, then forwarded to the city's Human Resources
Department.
- If there is no active recruitment in progress, a City of Tigard
application form can be downloaded or obtained from City Hall. Completed
forms may be forwarded to the Tigard Police Department, Attn: Reserve Program,
13125 SW Hall Blvd., Tigard, OR 97223.
Individuals who have applications on file will be notified of the time and
location of the written examination. In all cases, a passing score on the
written examination must be attained. Those individuals with qualifying
scores will be invited for a panel interview with representatives from the
Reserve Program as well as other divisions of the Police Department. Successful
completion of the interview will advance the individual to the background phase.
At the conclusion of the background investigation, the Chief of Police conducts
an interview and determines whether or not the individual shall be advanced to
the next phase of testing - a psychological evaluation. Following is a two-part
medical evaluation. The Chief of Police will ultimately determine candidates
selected to begin training as a Reserve Officer.
After the candidate is sworn in, the recruit Reserve Officer will be assigned to
one of the Reserve Sergeants for guidance and subsequent enrollment into the
reserve academy.
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