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)
