12/08/03  No Carry Status for DPD Reserves

What does Fort Worth know that Dallas doesn't?
 

This happened in 2001. Hmm...

Unfortunately, Dallas PD has not extended carry status to our Reserve Officers. Why not?
 

If the taxpaying public, city council, mayor and city manager believe the despicable behavior exhibited by a few full-time officers is common to the uniform, then perhaps the Reserve Officers' need to defend themselves is sacrificed on a legal altar due to perceived "liabilities"?

About two weeks ago, a full-time DPD lieutenant driving home on CF Hawn Freeway had his truck's windows shot out by some would-be carjackers in Pleasant Grove. A few months ago, I came within two minutes of walking into a robbery of the Wells Fargo branch office inside the Tom Thumb supermarket near my home.

Random attack or not, the criminal element will not distinguish a reserve officer from a full-time officer.

Is it possible that some "bad apple" PAID officers have stunk up the pot for the non-paid Reservists?

If the taxpaying public, city council, mayor and city manager believe the despicable behavior exhibited by a few full-time officers is common to the uniform, then perhaps the Reserve Officers' need to defend themselves is sacrificed on a legal altar due to perceived "liabilities"?

At the state level, House Bill 957 (76th Legislature) http://www.trloa.com/legupd.htm  included fully-licensed reserve officers as peace officers and allowed them full off-duty carry privileges with permission of the Sheriff, Constable or Chief of Police.

At the national level, "H.R. 218 Needs YOUR Support Now! http://www.leaa.org/218/summary.html.  The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, H.R. 218 will allow qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry their concealed firearms nationwide. Together with its sister bill, S.253, H.R.218 will allow trained and experienced officers to better protect themselves, their families and our communities.

We need YOU to get involved with the passage of this critical legislation!"

Who should our politicians and our criminal justice system be punishing... the criminals or the peacekeepers?

I'd be willing to bet that crime victims would support the overdue implementation of these legislative efforts by our overpaid politicians and bureaucrats!  But, then life in a bubble makes it so hard for them to relate to us real people and our pesky problems.

I became a member of the DPD Reserve Battalion on Nov.15, 2003.

While going through some files, I dug up this article from a few years ago. Considering the depths to which morale sunk during Bolton's term as "chief waiver-maker", two sentences in particular captured my attention:

"The reserves take pride in their reputation. Over the years, there have been no reported incidents involving the use excessive force or unlawful conduct."

How refreshing! Perhaps we should build the ranks of the Reserves?! The price is right (and recession-proof). I have only contributed about 20 hours of volunteer patrol so far.  From what I've seen of the Reserve Officers who have preceded me, we are getting much, MUCH more than what we are paying for. I can only hope the new chief will agree. 
 

'Best-kept secret in town'; Police reserves protect, serve Dallas for free 05/14/2000 By Connie Piloto / The Dallas Morning News

As senior vice president of Texas Capital Bank, Richard Anderssen Sr. spends his days meeting with CEOs.  On weekends, Mr. Anderssen trades his suit and tie for the blue uniform of the Dallas Police Department.    Mr. Anderssen, 58, commands the department's little-known police reserve battalion, a unit of 45 volunteer officers who are subject to the same tests and standards and endure some of the same dangers as regular patrol officers - all without a paycheck.    "We're the best-kept secret in town," said Mr. Anderssen. "This is an opportunity to do something very positive that otherwise you would never get to do. ... We're also giving a lot back." . . .   Last year, the unit contributed more than 14,000 hours to the department. . . .   In addition to Mr. Anderssen, the battalion is made up of two deputy commanders and six lieutenants who work with reserve officers on patrol, at parades and other special events and in tactical or administrative units. . . .  They make arrests, write reports and witness the pain that violence leaves behind.     "I learned to handle difficult people right off the bat," said Pam Lewis, 45, who joined the reserve unit straight out of college. Then 24, Ms. Lewis had majored in criminal justice and dreamed about a full-time career in law enforcement.     She applied to become an officer, but "back then they weren't hiring women as frequently and as often as they do now." . . .  Mr. Anderssen, who said he had always been interested in police work, applied to become a reserve in 1984 after selling his business, which dealt in natural gas and liquids. After passing a series of tests, he spent six months attending classes at the police academy for two nights a week and all day on Saturdays. He was commissioned as a peace officer in 1985.     Once he was certified, Mr. Anderssen spent five months with a field-training officer before joining a regular police officer on patrol. . . .  The reserves were created in the early 1950s to promote civilian involvement. At the time, reserve officers wore plainclothes, didn't carry guns and patrolled with two officers in a squad car.     By 1955, the reserve unit had 200 officers and started issuing uniforms. Reserve officers had to complete 140 hours of training at the academy before walking a beat.    Many reserves left for other police departments in the early 1970s, when the Texas Legislature passed laws allowing cities to give reserves full police powers. Dallas decided against passing along that responsibility.    In 1981, Police Chief Glen King decided to arm the reserves and give them powers of arrest. In the 1990s, the state required newly hired reserve officers to obtain peace officer certification, and most of the current reserves went back to the academy to earn their licenses. . . .