118 – Reserve Deputy Program

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I. Purpose

This policy establishes and describes the duties and functions of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Reserve Command. This is a volunteer program composed of certified, trained personnel with the stated goal of providing supplemental support to full-time, regular deputies.

II. Definitions

Reserve Command: An all-volunteer law enforcement command utilized to supplement full-time personnel and provide additional assistance for special events and emergencies.

Reserve deputies are appointed and assigned at the sole discretion of the Sheriff, who may revoke any such appointment or assignment at any time. Reserve deputies have no right to appeal any assignment or revocation made by the Sheriff.

Reserve Deputy: A volunteer deputy serving within the Reserve Command. With the limited exception of HCSO Civil Service Rules, reserve deputies are governed by the same laws, policies, and regulations that apply to full-time, regular deputies.

III. Policy

Volunteer deputies who receive the same training as full-time HCSO deputies can be valuable assets to HCSO and should be deployed as necessary to support full-time personnel.

IV. Procedure

  1. Selection Criteria
    1. Applicants shall submit a completed HCSO application to the Reserve Command and are subject to the same requirements as full-time deputies as laid out in Policy 703 — Hiring Procedures for Positions Requiring TCOLE License.
    2. If an applicant is a current licensed peace officer under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 2A.001 and received their license from a source other than HCSO, the Sheriff may require them to compete the Basic Police Officer Course (BPOC) at the HCSO Academy.
  2. Training
    1. Reserve deputies shall complete the same training required for full-time, regular deputies by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and HCSO. This includes basic, intermediate, and advanced training programs.
    2. No reserve deputy shall be commissioned, authorized to carry a weapon, or make arrests prior to receiving the required training, demonstrating weapons proficiency, and successfully passing the TCOLE licensing examination.
    3. Training shall be conducted at HCSO Training Academy or as directed by the Sheriff or their designee.
    4. The training scheduled may vary to accommodate the reserve or HCSO needs.
    5. Reserve deputies shall demonstrate the skills required and proficiency with all weapons used in accordance with HCSO policy.
  3. Duties
    1. Upon acceptance in the Reserve Command, personnel shall be sworn in by taking an oath of office administered by the Sheriff or designee.
    2. Reserve deputies shall support all areas of HCSO are subject to call-out for critical situations including, but not limited to, man-made or natural disasters, search and rescue missions, and any circumstances deemed necessary by the Sheriff.
    3. All reserve deputies shall be assigned to a bureau within HCSO. The scope of duties of a reserve deputy shall be commensurate with the requirements of the assignment and comparable to the duties required of a full-time, regular deputy in the same assignment.
    4. The duties of reserve deputies on call-out, special events, and any other situation deemed necessary by the Sheriff shall be governed by the applicable HCSO policies and procedures.
  4. Disciplinary Actions

    The reserve deputy shall be subject to all policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and directives of HCSO except that reserve deputies shall not be subject to the rules or provisions of the Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission.

    1. The Sheriff or their designee has the discretion to discipline a reserve deputy for any violation of HCSO policies or procedures. Such disciplinary decisions are final. Reserve deputies have no right of appeal.
    2. If, at any time, a reserve deputy’s commission is revoked or suspended, HCSO shall notify TCOLE in writing of that fact.
  5. Organization
    1. Chain of Command

      Reserve Command functions as a unit of the Field Operations Command and reports to the Assistant Chief of the Field Operations Command. The Sheriff shall designate a chief of the Reserve Command to serve as the supervisor for the Reserve Command.

    2. Reserve Command shall maintain the same rank structure designated for full-time, regular deputies.
    3. A reserve deputy on duty is subject to direct supervision of their immediate supervisor in the division or bureau assigned.
    4. A reserve deputy of any rank may not exercise any supervisory authority over full-time, regular deputies unless previously authorized by the Sheriff or Chief Deputy.
  6. Uniforms and Equipment:
    1. Reserve deputies shall be issued standard uniforms required by HCSO.
    2. Reserve deputies shall comply with the dress code as described in Policy 240 — Dress Code and all other applicable policies regarding the appropriation, use, and care of HCSO uniforms, property, and equipment.
    3. HCSO reserve deputies who hold supervisory rank shall wear the uniform of a deputy without supervisory rank when they are working in in any law enforcement field operations or detentions assignment.

      HCSO reserve deputies who hold supervisory rank may wear the uniform of that supervisory rank for formal occasions, such as award ceremonies, funerals, meetings, or other occasions where it is deemed appropriate by a supervisor.

    4. HCSO shall provide the same liability protection to reserve deputies that it provides to full-time, regular deputies performing within the scope of their duties.
  7. Transfer to Regular Deputy Status:

    A reserve deputy may apply for transfer to full-time, regular deputy status if they have performed at least 1,040 hours as a law enforcement first responder and passed:

    1. a background investigation as described in Policy 703 — Hiring Procedures for Positions Requiring TCOLE License,
    2. the Physical Abilities Test (PAT), and
    3. the Peace Officer Selection Test (POST).

      A deputy who transfers from the Reserve Command into service as a full-time regular deputy in this manner shall serve a 180-day probationary period.

References

Texas Code of Criminal Procedure 2A.001
Policy 240 — Dress Code
Policy 703 — Hiring Procedures for Positions Requiring TCOLE License

Revision

This policy has been revised on the below listed dates:

April 21, 2009 July 20, 2016
June 18, 2009 February 11, 2021
May 21, 2010 June 1, 2024

March 20, 2025 (Technical Changes)

July 14, 2025

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