Laguna Beach : Recruitment Drive Opens for Reserve Officers

If you’re looking for an interesting way to spend some of your free time, don’t mind being on your feet or on the road and think you might like a career in law enforcement, the Laguna Beach Police Department would like to hear from you.

Laguna Beach police are taking applications for reserve officer positions. Like volunteer firefighters, reserve police officers serve without pay. They put in least 24 hours of duty each month, usually as a second officer on a patrol. With summer coming, Laguna Beach needs extra help with the increased workload, said Police Sgt. Michael Davis.

Reserve officers can receive pay when assigned to specific duties such as crowd control at parades and sporting events, or foot patrols in certain areas of the city, he said.

Reserve police service frequently leads to a full-time career in law enforcement, Davis said. Many police departments are eager to hire people who have previously served as reservists, he said. “It’s an excellent opportunity to get some practical experience, if someone wants to become a regular police officer,” he said.

Applicants for the Laguna Beach reserve force must pass an oral exam, a physical agility test, medical and psychological examinations and a background screening to be accepted for training. Trainees attend reserve academy for 21 weeks, two nights a week and on Saturdays. Uniforms and equipment, including weapons, are supplied by the Police Department.

Candidates need not live in Laguna Beach, Davis said, but must be at least 21 years old. For more information, contact Sgt. Greg Bartz, at 497-3311.