Wanted: Police Reserve Officers in Minnehaha County

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Minnehaha County Emergency Management is taking applications for reserve officers to supplement full time officers, deputies and troopers.

     Assistant Director Doug Blomker says reserve officers ride on patrols and assist at various events in the county.

     Blomker says final selection of reserve officers will be made in December with training starting January.  He says finalists will train for five months including search and seizure, community policing, defensive tactics, first aid and firearms.  It's basically a mini-police academy of 150 hours of class time.      

     Blomker says reserve officers are sworn in by the State of South Dakota, have arrest powers and are armed.

     Applications can be made at the County Emergency Management Office at 608 Sigler Avenue.  The deadline to apply is September 20th.  There are about 45 current reserve officers and Blomker says the agency is hoping to find about a dozen new ones.  The program is strictly volunteer, there is no pay.