Join TPD Reserves

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BECOME A RESERVE OFFICER

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The Tulsa Police Reserve is a volunteer law enforcement organization managed by the Special Operations Division of the Tulsa Police Department. With the exception of education requirements, the selection criteria to become a Tulsa Police Reserve Officer are the same as a Tulsa Police Officer. Reserve Officers are required to perform to Tulsa Police standards. Applicants for the Tulsa Police Reserve, however, are part-time and not paid.

RESERVE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must be 21 years of age to apply.
Must be a U.S. Citizen and reside in the Tulsa Metropolitan area once hired.
Applicants must have completed high school.
Far Visual Acuity of at least 20/30 in each eye with or without corrective lenses.
Peripheral Vision without correction of 140 degrees in the horizontal median in each eye.
Ability to distinguish red and green on a standard Ishihara test for color blindness.
On average, hearing loss unaided in the better ear not greater than 40db at 500Hz, 1000Hz and 2000 Hz.
Applicants may not have been convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude.
Applicants may not have used marijuana less than one (1) year prior to application.
Applicants may not have used any illicit drugs, nor any prescription drugs not prescribed to them, less than five (5) years prior to application.

TRAINING AND CONTINUOUS EDUCATION

Apprentice Reserve Officers receive more than twice the number of class hours required by the State of Oklahoma to become a certified reserve police officer. Expert certified instructors guide recruits through the intensive coursework to prepare them to meet the department's high standards.

Tulsa Police Reserve law enforcement does not end with successful completion of the 6-month academy. Graduates are assigned to Field Training Officers for on-the-job training. All police reserve officers receive the same amount of in-service training hours as the full time TPD Officers. The minimum is 25 hours annually (max 40 hours). These hours can be obtained on nights, weekends, or during the day with full-time officers. This prepares you to work several community functions and special events that require police services. They also work side-by-side with full-time Tulsa Police Officers during emergencies and regular patrol shifts.

Reserve Officer must volunteer 24 hours a quarter to ride in a car on patrol with a full-time officer AND volunteer an additional 12 hours a quarter to work special events such as runs, parades, etc.

RESERVE APPLICATION & TESTING

The Tulsa Police Department is testing applicants who are interested in attending the Tulsa Police Reserve Academy.

Applicants who are interested in taking these tests should call 918.591.4100 or 800.688.6848. Applicants should leave a message with the preferred test date, their name, and two phone numbers. The written aptitude and Physical Aptitude Test (PAT) will be held at the Tulsa Police Training Center at 6066 East 66th Street North.

Applicants are tested twice a month. Testing may take up to four (4) hours.

Daytime Testing - First Tuesday of each month. Applicants should report to the Training Academy at 7:45 A.M. for 8:00 A.M. testing.
Evening Testing - Third Tuesday of each month. Applicants should report to the Training Academy at 5:45 P.M. for 6:00 P.M. testing.

Applicants Must Bring:

Driver license
Social security card
Workout-type clothing for the Physical Ability Test.

HISTORY OF THE TPD RESERVES

In 1953, the Civil Defense Volunteer Program was organized in the City of Tulsa as a division of the Tulsa City/County Civil Defense Administration. The organization was created initially and solely for training volunteers who could be deployed to provide needed aid, services, and support to the citizens of the City and County of Tulsa, Oklahoma, under the direction, coordination and control of the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency (TAEMA).

In 1976, the volunteer program expanded into an organization entitled the Tulsa Auxiliary Police (TAP). While retaining its original intended mission and objectives, it expanded to permit Tulsa Auxiliary Police Officers to do other functions where trained personnel could help law enforcement agencies in manning functions involving the public where there were not sufficient personnel available from professional law enforcement agencies.

In 1995, the City of Tulsa established a new era of volunteer police officers. The Mayor of the City of Tulsa authorized the Chief of Police to appoint reserve municipal police officers as provided by state law. The Tulsa Auxiliary Police became the Tulsa Police Reserve (TPR). This organization consists of highly dedicated and motivated men and women who want to serve their community by volunteering their time and effort through law enforcement. TPR officers play a vital role in balancing the safety and cost factors during special/civic events and provide an inexpensive solution to continuing demands for greater police service.

The Chief of Police has designated the Special Operations Division of the Tulsa Police Department to manage this elite reserve police force. The Special Events Coordinator of the Special Operations Division has been designated to coordinate the activities of the organization through the TPR Command Staff. The TPR Command Staff has been designated to organize and implement the internal structure procedures of the organization. Since the conception of the Tulsa Police Reserve, the Department has given reserve officers more responsibility, equipment, and support than in previous years. The Tulsa Police Reserve fills a vital role by ensuring the safety of citizens at a variety of events throughout the City of Tulsa.