In 2000 the Reserve Unit was awarded the Minneapolis Police Department's Unit Citation.  This award is given annually by the Chief of Police to a select few units that perform exceptionally in service to the Department and the City of Minneapolis.  The Minneapolis Police Reserve previously received the Unit Citation in 1992.  The members of the Reserve Unit are honored to receive this award and are grateful to Chief Olson and Chief Laux for their consideration.  The Unit Citation pin (pictured above) is worn by officers who served in the unit when the citation was awarded.

It may be something of an irony that a unit whose officers staff over 100 events per year, often with two or more events in a week during busy months, is identified with the word, "Reserve."  A common misconception is that the Police Reserve is like the military reserve, where reservists participate in training exercises while waiting to be called-up.  On the contrary, Minneapolis Police Reserve Officers are in uniform and out in the field, week-in and week-out, all year long.  Another misconception is that non-sworn officers don't get to do much.  Not a chance... many small police departments would have a hard time keeping up with the Minneapolis Police Reserve.  After all, with 60-plus officers, our own fleet of squad cars, a Reserve Headquarters facility, and even our own Reserve Chief, we're in a class by ourselves in the public safety community.

This page gives a synopsis of the many duties of the Minneapolis Police Reserve.

Preparing for emergencies has been a principal duty of the Minneapolis Police Reserve since its inception over 50 years ago.  From the end of World War II through the 1980s, the fear of nuclear war was never far from people's minds, and Civil Defense officers all over America prepared for the day the bomb might drop out of the sky.  The bomb never came and as the Cold War drew to a close, so did the era of Civil Defense.  The enemy overseas had essentially been defeated following the fall of the Iron Curtain, and the U.S. was the world's sole remaining superpower.  We slept well believing Fortress America was impenetrable.  The foundation of our country was shaken once again on September 11, 2001, with the shattering realization that our enemies exist not only across the oceans; they live among us.

The law enforcement and public safety communities have responded with unprecedented determination, steadfast in their efforts to prevent future incidents of domestic terrorism.  Behind the scenes, under radar, and beyond the glare of television cameras, law enforcement officers at every level of government are hard at work protecting our homeland.  Across the country, reserve police officers and other volunteer public safety personnel are on the frontlines and in the trenches of this new era of civil defense.

In Minneapolis, the Police Reserve now falls under the command of the MPD's Emergency Preparedness Coordinator.  Home to a number of potential hard and soft targets for terrorism, the Twin Cities - and downtown Minneapolis in particular - are at-risk along with other major U.S. cities.  Minneapolis Police Reserve Officers have received training in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and are ready to respond should the unthinkable happen.

Emergency preparedness, however, goes beyond the anticipation of terrorist attacks.  Far more likely is the fallout from natural disasters and incidents of civil unrest.  The Twin Cities region is on the edge of Tornado Alley, in the valleys of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, and under an unforgiving continental climate and the storms that come with it.  Minneapolis itself is home to one of the largest university campuses in the world, a plethora of regional and national events, and all of the complex social problems common in an American metropolis.  The potential for chaos looms quietly in the shadows of the Minneapolis skyline but the people of this great city can sleep well knowing that the officers of their Police Reserve Unit are always on-call.

Any police trainer or experienced officer can tell you that a uniform is an officer's first tool on the job.  The mere presence of a blue shirt and a badge can be remarkably effective for commanding attention, conveying authority, affecting behavior, calming victims, maintaining order, and deterring criminal activity.  What's more, a skilled and professionally minded officer often can elicit his or her desired outcome using appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication and without escalating the use of force.  Teaching reserve officers to correctly utilize this advantage is one of the core lessons of the Minneapolis Police Reserve Academy.

At public events large and small - from the longest parade to the shortest school carnival - reserve officers provide a congruent level of security with their professional uniformed presence.  At large functions, such as Metrodome events and other centralized gatherings, reserve officers may be assigned to traffic detail or to a security post at an entry point or other perimeter location.  Public security may also be provided by motor escort - recently, a detail of reserve officers escorted an original copy of the Declaration of Independence through Minneapolis.

Public and private non-profit organizations hosting public events regularly utilize Minneapolis Police Reserve Officers when the services of a regular police officer are not required.  Reserve officers may supervise entry points, guard cash storage and movements, monitor the grounds and surrounding area, help keep the peace, and so on.  Organizations may request the services of the Minneapolis Police Reserve by submitting a written request prior to the event.

One of the most critical areas of public safety is the control of vehicle and pedestrian traffic at large public events, in congested urban areas, and during emergency situations.  The MPD's Reserve Unit is one of the most experienced units in the entire state in the management of vehicle traffic and large crowds.  Given the considerable number of large events that occur in Minneapolis every year, plus the substantial flow of traffic through the city, Minneapolis Police Reserve Officers are called upon regularly to handle complex logistical scenarios.  New recruits receive over 20 hours of training in this area as part of the Minneapolis Police Reserve Academy, the most of any metro area police agency.  In fact, the Minneapolis Police Officer who teaches the classroom portion of "traffic school" is a former Reserve Deputy Chief and is the traffic control instructor for the MPD.

Traffic and crowd control is by far the most dangerous aspect of reserve policing in Minneapolis -- the only two Minneapolis Police Reserve Officers killed in the line of duty were fatally wounded in traffic control situations.

Police officers occupy a special place in the public eye and are the subject of continual observation, fascination, and criticism.  Uniformed officers are often the most visible representatives of local government, seen as protectors, public servants, problem solvers, and keepers of the peace.  Few professionals receive as much daily attention as the men and women who wear a blue uniform and a badge.  As a result, a city's police force can be a great source of community pride as well as an incubus for controversy.  These truths are compounded exponentially in a large metropolitan police department.  The relationship between a law enforcement agency and the people it serves is of paramount importance.

As both citizens and uniformed members of the police department, reserve police officers play a unique role in their agency's public relations efforts.  Minneapolis Police Reserve Officers are a valuable asset to the City as very visible representatives of the Minneapolis Police Department, especially at large community events.  Long-time residents and first-time visitors to Minneapolis are likely to find a reserve officer happy to meet them and offering to help in any way they can.

Maintaining positive public relations is as much a priority of the Reserve Unit as providing public safety.  This philosophy is inherent in the performance of all of our duties and is a fundamental component of our high standards for hiring and training.

The prevention of crime through public education, activism and awareness among citizens, and early intervention are important elements of an effective community based policing strategy.  The use of officers to encourage citizen participation and teach proactive solutions is a valuable tool for law enforcement agencies.

Increasingly, reserve officers are requested to staff events for the purpose of promoting crime prevention, safety, and special programs.  Reserve officers can be seen registering children for fingerprint and photograph identification, registering motorists in the Watch Your Car program, giving lessons in bicycle safety for the Minneapolis Park Police Department, and providing crime prevention tips to residents and visitors.  Reserve officers have staffed dozens of events at precinct stations, parks, and schools.