The Harris County Sheriff’s Reserve possesses a heritage of providing a ready citizen resource of trained and qualified personnel that assist the Sheriff in meeting Harris County law enforcement and emergency response needs. Over the years the reserves have worked in excess of 5 million hours. Reserve deputies assume their own expenses. The monetary savings of this activity to the county has amounted to more than $100 million. The Harris County Sheriff’s Reserve is the largest Sheriff’s Reserve Organization in Texas and nationally ranked second only to California’s Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Approximately 200 citizens from all walks of life currently form the Harris County Sheriff’s Reserve. Other departments throughout the nation have copied the Harris County program as an effective way to increase available personnel without capital expenditures. Our Reserve Deputies possess full legal police powers when on duty. They become part-time, unpaid, fully qualified professional police officers with the same responsibilities as a regular Deputy.
Reserve cadets must complete 618 hours of law enforcement academy training, just as any full-time peace officer before certification and commissioning. After certification and commissioning, reserve deputies are required to maintain the same training requirement as full time paid peace officers.
Each reserve deputy shares a common dedication to law enforcement. They also share the belief that through their efforts they can make Harris County a better place to live. No matter what their duty assignment may be, each strives to achieve the high level of professionalism required by today’s peace officer. Reserve deputies include engineers, mechanics, doctors, clerks, secretaries, self-employed business people, managers of corporations and lawyers. Many reserve deputy families have long traditions of law enforcement. Some reservists previously worked as regular law officers and many regular deputies began their career as a reserve deputy.
Reserve deputies work in all areas of the Sheriff’s Department. Reserve deputies work as "one-man" patrol units and on single deputy duty assignments...a responsibility and privilege allowed Harris County reserve deputies due to the quality of training and professionalism of the organization. Like most citizens, reserve deputies want safe streets, criminals behind bars and an improved community.
By departmental regulation, a reserve deputy must perform a minimum of 20 hours of duty assignment each month and attend a reserve meeting. Reserves also must pass annual firearms qualifications , maintain TCLEOSE and can be called for special assignments or emergencies. Most reservists volunteer much more than the required minimum time.
