There is hereby established a reserve police force to be known as the DeSoto Police Reserve, such force to be separate and distinct from the police department.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.701)
(a) 
The chief of police shall be the head of the DeSoto Police Reserve, and the members of the reserve shall be under the authority, control and command of the chief of police, subject to all of the provisions of the city charter, ordinances of the city, and laws of the State of Texas.
(b) 
The chief of police, may, by order, establish rules and regulations governing the DeSoto Police Reserve, to fix specific duties of its members, and to provide for the maintenance of discipline.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.702)
The DeSoto Police Reserve shall be composed of personnel who have volunteered to join the organization, and whose applications have been accepted by the chief of police. The total strength of the DeSoto Police Reserve shall not exceed thirty (30) members.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.703)
The chief of police shall appoint the members of the DeSoto Police Reserve. Members serve at the chief's discretion. Application for membership in the DeSoto Police Reserve shall be filed with the DeSoto Police Department on a form prescribed by the chief of police. Members of the DeSoto Police Reserve shall be appointed by the chief of police from a list of eligible applicants. Selection of eligible applicants to serve as reserve police officers is subject to an interview, background investigation, physical ability test, polygraph examination, psychological test, physical examination and drug screening.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.704)
The duties of the DeSoto Police Reserve, subject at all times to the direction and supervision of the chief of police, shall be to assist the regular members of the DeSoto Police Department in the enforcement of law and maintenance of peace and order, when assigned duty by the chief of police. The chief of police may call the DeSoto Police Reserve into service at any time the chief considers it necessary to have additional officers to preserve the peace and enforce the law. Reserve police officers shall act only in a supplementary capacity to the regular police force. When assigned duty, members of the DeSoto Police Reserve will be under the control and supervision of regular police officers when carrying out their duties. The chain of command established for the DeSoto Police Department shall be strictly adhered to by members of the DeSoto Police Reserve.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.705)
(a) 
Members of the DeSoto Police Reserve serve as peace officers during actual discharge of official duties.
(b) 
No person appointed to the DeSoto Police Reserve may carry a weapon or otherwise act as a peace officer until such person has been approved by the city council. After approval, such member may carry a weapon only when authorized by the chief of police and only when discharging official duties as a peace officer.
(c) 
A reserve police officer shall have the same powers of arrest and authority as a regular police officer as prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas when performing official duties. This power and authority will be exercised under the supervision and control of the chief of police or designated members of the DeSoto Police Department.
(d) 
No member of the DeSoto Police Reserve shall break into or otherwise forcefully enter upon private property or into the dwelling or habitation of another person without the consent of a member of the DeSoto Police Department who then and there requests the aide of the reserve officer in the enforcement of the law.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.706)
The chief of police shall prescribe the uniforms and badges for members of the police reserve force and direct the manner in which the same shall be worn. The badge and identification card issued to members of the police reserve force by the police department shall be carried at all times by members of the police reserve force.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.707)
Members of the city’s police reserve may be compensated for the performance of their official duties. Such compensation shall be commensurate with their official duties. The chief of police shall have the authority to establish a rate of pay, if any, for the city’s police reserve. The city may provide hospital and medical assistance to a member of the police reserve who sustains injury in the course of performing official duties in the same manner as provided for full-time police officers.
(Ordinance 1919-12 adopted 6/19/12)
(a) 
Membership of any person in the DeSoto Police Reserve may be terminated by the chief of police at any time for any cause, and any member may resign from the DeSoto Police Reserve at any time, but it shall be the duty of the DeSoto Reserve Officer to notify the chief of such resignation.
(b) 
In addition to the penalties provided by law, any violation of law under color of the performance of duty as a member of the DeSoto Police Reserve, and any breach of the rules and regulations established by the chief of police, shall subject any member of the DeSoto Police Reserve to summary expulsion and such fact may be published at the order of the chief of police.
(1995 Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8, Article 8.700, Section 8.709)