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1. Can Reserves serve as full-time officers?

Reserve officers, by definition are other than full-time officers, and are not to be used in lieu of a certified Washington peace officers.

2. Can Reserves be compensated?

Some agencies do compensate reserve officers for the time they serve. Reserves are considered at will employees or paid volunteers and as such they are not entitled to certain benefits or retirement systems such as LEOFF II. Agencies have employed persons with reserve commissions, but compensated then as city or county employees in another capacity.

3. If I was a reserve officer or a fully commissioned officer in another state can my training and certificate be transferred?

Yes, however that is up to the agency that accepts you as a reserve. There is currently no equivalency process for reserves, therefore exceptions to the training requirements must be submitted by the law enforcement agency and negotiated with the Commission.

4. How long does my Reserve certificate stay current?

Once you have been certified as a Reserve officer, your certificate stays current unless you have a break or interruption in service as a commissioned reserve for more than twelve months. A break in service of more than two years, or employment as a Reserve with a different agency will require the applicant to successfully complete the psychological and polygraph test.

5. Is there an Equivalency process to become a Reserve Officer?

No, not at this time.