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20 Nov 2008  
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Tigard Police Reserves

City of Tigard
Human Resources
Human Resources can provide additional basic hiring information.

Application materials can be found here.
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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?
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.

What is the training?
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?
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.

What does it cost?
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.

How do I apply?
The application process for the Tigard Police Reserves can be done in two ways.
  1. 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.


  2. 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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Frequently Asked Questions
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What does it take to be hired?

What is the written exam like?

What is the oral interview like?

What is the physical agility test?

What is the background investigation?

What is the Chief’s interview?

What are the monthly requirements?

What is the training?

What does it cost?

How do I apply?



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CONTACT US
City of Tigard, 13125 SW Hall Blvd, Tigard, OR 97223, 503-639-4171 | Map and Directions

AFTER-HOURS CONTACT
Public Works/Water: 503-639-1554 | Police Non-Emergency: 503-629-0111

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