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Main Page Joining an auxiliary/reserve department
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Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

I am currently attending Boston College and I am 19 years old. I am interested in getting involved in one of the reserve/auxiliary departments around here. So far I have heard about Belmont, Waltham, and Cambridge. What powers do reserve officers that work for these towns have? DO they function as normal police officers, or are they stuck doing the grunt work? WHat are these departments standings on carrying under the badge while being under 21?

thanks a lot,
Ray
tucker1@aol.com

Posted by: mv577

Hey Ray...

I can only speak for my Auxiliary Department... but I think most will fall under these same guidelines.

21 is the minimum age for an Auxiliary Officer since you must be 21 to obtain your LTC. Although when on duty we have full police powers, at the discretion of our superior officer on at the time, when off duty we are just civilans... so we must maintain a class A LTC.

In Wayland the Auxiliary Officers are utilized as back ups for the regular department... we assist as much as requested by the shift Sgt etc... we're lucky in this respect that we patrol and actually serve the town... I know of some Aux departments that yes... all they are able to do is grunt work... this you'll find will vary from dept to dept.... Some that I know of don't even allow their Auxiliary's to carry while on the road.... personally I'm all set with that one...

So if you do find an Aux. Department that will take you at 19... plan not to carry...

Hope that helps...
Mike

Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

So then I should jsut wait until I am 21? WHat about all these posts about "carrying under the badge." DOes this apply to any apartments in the chestnut hill area?

Posted by: LeadDog17

That applies to FT/PT, sworn, paid police officers.

Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

HOw long is the training program for a P/T officer?

Posted by: DArancio56

Ray,

See if you can get sponsored through a local department to go to the Basic Reserve Academy. In my present reserve academy class there is a kid who is a senior in HS going through this process. This should be a great first step for you if you wish to pursue a career in LE.

There are a few other kids in my class who are not 21 yet and they will be carrying under the badge; from what they have told me, they will have to sign their gun out everytime they work.

Hope this helps

Posted by: mv577

As LeadDog said... I believe that would only apply to sworn personel... Auxiliary Officers are not sworn in...

Posted by: RPD931

Tucker,

Like DArancio56 said, try to get a Department to Sponser you. My suggestion to your would be to talk to a higher ranking Officer at Boston College PD as they can sponser you if they're willing.

The cost of the Reserve Academy is about $300.

good luck.

Posted by:

You can't carry on the badge in Massachusetts any longer. C41 S98 does not apply after Herr Attorney General Reilly changed the law back in 1998.

Some cops who had past A&B's on their records were denied a permit to carry and tried the "Carry Under The Badge " rule but were denied. They were forcibly retired because of it.

One Franklin cop got into a fight with his brother when he was 17 and had a CWOF for a A&B and was forcibly retired after serving the town faithfully for over 25 years! Sounds fair huh??

I hate to sound sour, but try another field guys. Become a part-timer or a Reserve & if you like it, stick with it. Take another job and do this on the side. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. The job, with all it's flaws & it's plus side, ain't what it used to be.

Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

Can someone give me guidance on becoming a part-timer. I am somewhat worried about the training? I am a full-time student and don't know if i could fit it into my schedule. How many hours is the training for a sworn in part time officer?

Posted by: dimen24

The last guy from my department that went to the part time academy went for I think 16 or 20 wks, Saturdays 8-4 roughly and it cost 460$.. so if you've got saturdays then you can do it.. I have heard that some pt acads. run 3 times a wk two nights and a saturday but don't quote me on it I over heard in passing conversation. A chief has got to sponsor you, but you may have to pay if your not hired there.

http://www.state.ma.us/cjtc/

MCJTC (Mass Criminal Justice Training Council) website, there you should be able to find out when the acads run etc...

Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

Does anyone know of any departments around Chestnuthill that are willing to hire part-time?

Posted by: RPD931

Tucker, I can't think of any departments surrounding Boston that hire part-timers (PO's). Usually only smaller departments hire PT Officers... and the departments around Boston (Chestnut Hill) are large. For the time being (once you complete your training) you might want to consider Picking up a PT Dispatcher Job at one of the Colleges or towns. Or a GOOD Private Security Company (If they even exist anymore) that have Special Police Officers for Housing Developments and whatnot.

Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

I don't mind traveling if thats waht i have to do. What's the closest area surrouding chestnut hill that will hire part-timers? Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Posted by: Crvtte65

Honestly, go out and try finding your own, do some research of the surrounding towns and make a list of which you would like to work for, then call them up and ask if they hire PT/Aux officers. When they ask why or how you found out you can say what you did, show initiative and you are dedicated rather than "oh I heard from ___ who heard from ____ who heard from ___ that you may hire Aux" I will be doing the same myself next week when I am done collecting phone numbers.

Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

It won't be a problem that i am only 19 if I am going for PT right

Posted by: Crvtte65

I know a kid who works as an Aux under 21. Doesnt have a gun though

Posted by: mv577

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucker1@aol.com

It won't be a problem that i am only 19 if I am going for PT right

Not to be repetative... but if you cannot carry under the badge anymore... and cannot legal obtain an LTC... then I don't see how you could become a sworn P/T officer...

The dispatcher idea someone mentioned seems a good alternative... or an unarmed Aux. position....

Good luck,
Mike

Posted by: fscpd907

Does Boston College PD offer any student security programs ? / some schools have student security patrols (Westfield State). They offer escorts and extra security during major events. I think it would be great for the resume down the road and you might gain some contacts in the LE field. The best part is you can earn some $$$$ because for the most part AUX don't get paid

Posted by: aux14

Tucker,

Do you understand the difference between a part-time officer and an auxiliary officer? It seems that you may be confused. An auxiliary position is strictly voluntary. The duties are designated by the department that particular aux program is affiliated with. A part-time officer, is a sworn officer (meaning he has been sworn in, typically by a town official, to up hold the U.S. constitution and that of the commonwealth, etc.) An auxiliary officer is just added man-power, helping out with added patrols around the town, checking schools, businesses, etc. The part-time officer usually works 16 hours a week and is compensated for it, and has the same powers as a full-timer. Don't know if that helped at all, hope so!!

-Alana

Posted by: csauce30

Quote:

Tucker,

Do you understand the difference between a part-time officer and an auxiliary officer? It seems that you may be confused. An auxiliary position is strictly voluntary. The duties are designated by the department that particular aux program is affiliated with. A part-time officer, is a sworn officer (meaning he has been sworn in, typically by a town official, to up hold the U.S. constitution and that of the commonwealth, etc.) An auxiliary officer is just added man-power, helping out with added patrols around the town, checking schools, businesses, etc. The part-time officer usually works 16 hours a week and is compensated for it, and has the same powers as a full-timer. Don't know if that helped at all, hope so!!

-Alana

Just to clarify a few things...Alana is correct on the above summary of a part-time officer, but I think the above post may be somewhat misleading also. For the most part, an auxiliary officer is used exactly as stated above, school patrols, parks, town buildings, etc. However, most auxiliary officers are sworn in by a town official as well, (usually the town clerk in my experience) and although rarely used, are given the powers of police officers while on duty and in uniform working for the town. Although rare, some towns even grant the auxiliary officers "special" status and allow them to work paid details when they are turned down by the full time/part time officers. Many departments also authorize the "carry and use" of firearms by trained/qualified auxiliary officers while on duty. Hopefully this will clear up any questions relative to the auxiliary topic.

Posted by: RPD931

Tucker,

Just like my boy csauce said, some towns do have "sworn" Auxiliary Police Officers. This means that while they are only Volunteers they do have full police powers. It's a pretty cool gig.... and you get details that the FT's don't take, which can be often.

I had one of these gigs.... they're sweet. Good experience, good extra money (details).

But you are only 19, for now you'll have to stick with an unarmed Auxiliary unit or an unarmed Campus Police Dept. You would probably get better experience in the Campus setting, then when you hit 21 you can look for a PT armed gig..

Posted by: raedawn

I went to the Basic Reserve/Intermittent Academy in Norwood, MA about a year and a half ago. Back then it was 120 hours over about six months, now it's 180 hours (I think). I went on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6-10 pm. I was also going to school full-time and worked 40 hours/week at my job. If you are committed and really want to do it, it's possible. I found that alot of the classes in the Reserve Academy taught what I was learning in my LE classes in college. It just went a little more in depth. At the time, I took the Reserve Academy so I could become a Special Officer in the town I work for now. You meet alot of people that are trying to get their foot in the door. I was 19 when I went, and I was the youngest one. No one treated me any different for it though. Everyone's there for the same reason. Most the instructors are still active in their LE careers. They ranged from chiefs to detectives to sergeants. There's two aspects of it. Classroom stuff like criminal and constitutional law, mv law, suicide prevention, stress management, etc. Then there's Defensive Tactics. I even became certified in OC and the straight baton. But those were seperate classes offered by my DT instructors which wasn't actually through the MCJTC. I took a non-compliant handcuffing class too. You can get more info on the training council's website, although the dates aren't always accurate. Try looking on http://www.state.ma.us/cjtc/schedule.htm. If the schedules aren't up to date, you can at least get some contact numbers and find out more about the program and the academy locations near you.

Posted by: tomahawk

Here is some info that those of you looking for a reserve/intermittent academy may be interested in...

Wilmington PD, along with NERPI, is scheduling a 20-week Reserve/Intermittent academy to start 1/24/04 and run through June 2004. Classes will be held on Saturdays.

Send completed applications to the Reading Academy at the address below, or fax to 617-727-3911.

Reading Police Academy
P.O. Box 522
Reading, MA 01867

Good luck!

-Mike

Posted by: Sgt Jack

Not sure if they're still around but I know that Newton and Waltham both had Aux units..not sure what their roles are..as Aux units can vary from town to town like others have said..You may want to contact your campus pd and see if they would sponser you for a reserve class...had a kid in my academy class that was getting sponsered through his college but this was a few years ago..

Posted by: tucker1@aol.com

Ok, I tihnk I have decided taht my goal would be to become a Part time officer when I am 21. What is the best way of going about this? Should I jsut join an aux program so That i can get sent to the reserve academy, and then all i ahve to do is get my LTC and take the civil service test when I am 21?

Posted by: Southside

Quote:

Originally Posted by tucker1@aol.com

Ok, I tihnk I have decided taht my goal would be to become a Part time officer when I am 21. What is the best way of going about this? Should I jsut join an aux program so That i can get sent to the reserve academy, and then all i ahve to do is get my LTC and take the civil service test when I am 21?

Tucker,

Is there something wrong upstairs? First, You have a goal...that's great....stick to it. Second, you don't just join anything....you are selected. Third, there are others who had a goal to become a PT Officer....make sure you get in line. Fourth, when you take the civil service test (when you are 21)........don't get upset if you make no progress.....I wanted to get on when I was 21....now I am 26 and paying to put myself in the academy.....hopefully this will help my chances of obtaining my goal......I just have to continue to wait.....behind 20plus vets that are always on my towns list(to make it sound even worse, I haved lived w/residency in 2 towns....so it is not better in other areas). To sum it up....follow your goals......just be serious and realize they are not easy goals.....they must be earned!

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