Local police departments suspend reserve operations after state ruling

The Waynesboro and Staunton police departments have suspended the operation of their reserve police units after a state agency last month told Virginia police chiefs that reserve officers must complete the same training as sworn full-time officers.

The state Department of Criminal Justice Services wrote Virginia police chiefs on Dec. 16, telling them “auxiliary police officers must meet the same training requirements as sworn law enforcement officers.”

Full-time police require months of training at criminal justice training centers, and continued in-service training to maintain their certification.

Virginia police departments are seeking an opinion from the state attorney general’s office on the department of criminal justice services ruling.

Resolving the issue

Brian Gottstein, a spokesman for Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, said Thursday that opinion requests are attorney-client privileged information, and cannot be confirmed or denied.

An association representing Virginia police departments, the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, wants to resolve the training issue through negotiation with the state Department of Criminal Justice Services.

Dana Schrad, the association’s executive director, said a series of meetings will be needed to resolve the training issue, and she said it is possible Cucinelli’s office may be asked to also help.

Schrad said the issue is complicated but vital to police departments.

“We know the volunteer officer departments are critically important. These folks who volunteer are important and want to support police agencies,’’ Schrad said.

Schrad said she does not have a count of Virginia police departments who have suspended reserve programs, but she said she believes “the vast majority have.”

There is also proposed General Assembly legislation to deal with the training issue, including a bill from Shenandoah Valley state Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg.

Loss of 'safety net'

Both the Staunton and Waynesboro police departments say the temporary loss of reserve officers is taxing their departments.

Staunton has nine reserve officers, while Waynesboro has 14. But Waynesboro was preparing to bring on 11 new reserves and begin their training.

The reserve officers provide backup for patrol officers, and offer manpower at festivals, parades and other community events.

The Waynesboro police say its contingent of reserve officers provided 1,462.75 hours of time to the department in 2011. In Staunton, reserve officers provided 2,000 hours of time in 2010.

“This is a tremendous loss,’’ said Capt. Leslie Mitchell of the Staunton police.

Capt. Kelly Walker of the Waynesboro Police Department said reserve officers provide “a significant safety net’’ for his department, which currently has five full-time positions frozen and two officers deployed.

“Having reserve officers to fill the gaps is crucial,’’ Walker said.

Training

If training is the issue, both departments say they provide extensive training to reserve officers.

Walker said Waynesboro’s reserve officers receive 40 hours of firearms training, and are trained on law, police policy and procedures and such other facets of police work as searches, frisking and handcuffing.

Staunton’s reserve officers do not have arrest powers like Waynesboro’s, but they receive significant training.

Officer Lisa Klein, the department spokeswoman, said the reserve officers receive 40 hours of firearms training, and also are trained on traffic stops, felony stops, law, radio communication, bloodborne pathogens and sexual harassment.

Concerns

Among the most concerned reserve officers in either Waynesboro or Staunton is Waynesboro businessman Reo Hatfield, the president of Reo Distribution.

Hatfield, a reserve Waynesboro officer for 21 years, is chief of Waynesboro’s reserve program.

He has repeatedly contacted the Department of Criminal Justice Services about their ruling on reserve training, and expects to meet with department officials soon.

He said Staunton and Waynesboro suspended operations because they were concerned about the potential legal risk of not following the state directive.

Hatfield, a former member of Waynesboro City Council, said “there is already a budgeting problem’’ with the Waynesboro police, and said not having the reserve officers puts a further strain on the police resources.

“Regular officers want assistance,’’ he said. “We are sworn officers with the same arrest powers.”

Hatfield said reserve officers are business people and professionals who have successfully completed criminal background checks and police training.

Walker said if the training issue is not resolved, Waynesboro would be forced to look at hiring additional officers or ask for mutual assistance from the Virginia State Police, Staunton police and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.