The Muskogee Police Reserve Unit is a volunteer group who has gone through essentially the same selection process as career officers. These dedicated individuals provide hundreds of hours of volunteer time to the city of Muskogee each year.

The Muskogee Reserve unit averages about 25 volunteers.

Reserve officers are those who are interested in a career in law enforcement, citizens with established careers, but are interested in law enforcement, and retiring career officers who wish to continue in law enforcement on a part-time basis.

The Muskogee Police Reserve Unit consists of men and women from a variety of professions who donate their time and effort to serve their community. The reserve officer is a sworn part-time police officer who performs a civic duty assisting the career officers in their assigned duties. They wear the same uniforms, drive the same cars (well not exactly), make the same arrests, and take the same risks as career officers.

The Reserve Unit's primary function is to provide a police presence at community functions such as the Muskogee Azalea Festival, Shrine Circus, the Garden of Lights, and many other community sponsored events. Reserve officers, after certification, may work not only civic functions, but also patrol with a certified reserve or career officer. After successful completion of field training, reserve officers may patrol alone with shift supervisor approval.

Reserve officers are required to attend regularly scheduled meetings and required training. This includes periodic firearms qualifications. Reserve officers are requested to volunteer at least 8 hours per month to the reserve unit.

To join the Muskogee Police Reserves, you must be a legal Oklahoma resident, 21 years of age, in good physical and mental health, and a clean criminal and driving record.

Interested persons may obtain an application from the City of Muskogee personnel office. After the application is submitted, the applicant will be interviewed, submit fingerprints for a complete background investigation, and take a psychological test. Once the officer is accepted into the program, the officer will be scheduled for training.

The Reserve Officer must attend a basic academy which consists of a variety of subjects, including first aid and C.P.R., self-defense, laws of arrest, firearms, and search and seizure, patrol and traffic stops, and report writing. This training will amount to approximately 160+ hours.

The reserve unit will provide the basic uniform and leather gear. The officer is responsible for footwear, ballistic vest, flashlight, handcuffs and firearm.