As a reserve do you guys do the same thing as a regular officer? 

And, no.

 Thanks for the reply guys. Thanks for all the information StrykerBrig21.

Tallgov says ...

StrykerBrig21 says ...

Depends on the agency you work with. The agency I work with allows us to do so many things you could spend around 80+ hours a month just trying to do everything that comes up and all the request. We can do regular patrol, drug team, traffic, community action team, investigations, patty wagon, SWAT, Dive Team, Boats, Special Undercover Ops, Bike Patrol, Forensics, Warrants, Chopper. Plus many football games and community events. My Sheriff and its Deputies love us to death, they keep asking for are help. The Sheriff is also behind the program 1000%. We get the same equipment, same stuff, same training. 

But there are agencies out there that just strictly want reserves on road patrol with other officers and that is it. The Sheriff may or may not be behind the program, you may not get all the equipment and training. So its best to do some research into what department you want to go into and what you want to get out of the program. 

Bump good example there Stryker here in Tallahasse its the same with the S.O. but only they ride with the Deputy that is full time honestly the only diff in the two here is a college degree and experience...so think about that too but I think its a great way to get in the door thats the road I plan to take if all else fails.

Yes, I forgot that little detail. We have to be a full time deputy with the department while conducting leo duties. The only time we can be on are own is we have to go through a Field Training Program. And the Sheriff has to authorize the Reserve to be alone. But once that is all done, we can go and answer calls for service or other duties as long as we can be reached by radio, according to state law.

 I also wanted to put this out their as well. When I went through the program 2 yrs ago it about 9 months just to complete. Which was 2 weekends a month. Each reserve has the same training that full time deputies get, but in a shorter time frame and we do not get everything the Academy teaches. Here is SC we have to take an Academy approved courses and at the end an Academy test at the Academy. But one of the problems with wanting to go full time after being a reserve is you have to go to the Academy and take everything over again. In SC its 12 weeks at the Academy. So after 9 months of training and x amount of years doing the job they will send you back to the Academy. You might be able to skip OC/Taser, but that's about it. Me personally I think its a money issue with the Academy. If every Sheriff or Chief puts their officers/deputies through the reserves then just does a lateral transfer, the Academy is out of x amount dollars. I am not sure if its like that anywhere else but just be ready to do it all over again. 

Varies both from state to state and department to department.  In some states a reserve will be required to get exactly the same training  and maintain his training same as a full time officer.   In others the training may be less that required for a full  time officer.  I know at least one state that does not recognize reserve officers as law enforcement officers, and in that state their only authority comes from the agency that  sponsers has them.  Duties are determined by the department and often are related to experience and training, the more of both a reserve has the more he can do.