Jefferson County Sheriff's Reserves 
These Alabama Reserves really do it all!
Their involvement saves taxpayers/Department
over $1 million annually.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Reserves really do it all:  Enforcing the Law, Search & Rescue, Water Retrieval, and other Special Details.  We do it all!  This also includes testifying in court cases which are a result of a Reservist's actions such as a DUI arrest.

 Click here for the historic 1967 Alabama Law covering the authorization and appointment of
Jefferson County Sheriff's Reserve Deputies 

Reserve Utilization:  Under the leadership of Sheriff Mike Hale and Reserve Chief Deputy Michael Lee, the Jefferson County Reserve Unit consists of 44 Deputies.  A majority of the Reserves work in the Patrol/Enforcement Division of the Sheriff's Department.  There is a "Reserve Company" that performs functions in the Communications Bureau working as Dispatchers and call takers.  The Reserve organization provides the Department with its Diving Team which is routinely called upon to locate drowning victims and evidence which is tossed into bodies of water.  The Reserves also provide the Department with a Search & Rescue contingency in addition to the Ready Response Team which is comprised of those Deputies which can respond within a two-hour time frame if called upon.

The Reserves are divided into seven (7) companies as follow:  Headquarters, Communications, Bessemer, Centerpoint, Cahaba Heights, Forestdale, and Oak Grove.  The last five listed companies compose the units directly involved in Enforcement and Patrol.  Each company is assigned a Patrol car for the personnel to utilize.  The Dive Team is provided with an SUV to store equipment and to transport divers to necessary sites.  The four senior supervisors (Chief, Deputy Chief, and two Division Commanders) are assigned Patrol units.

Reservists are requested to work 16 hours per month; and last year the Jefferson County Sheriff's Reserves donated approximately 10,000 hours.  The Reserve Unit was informed by the Department that their involvement saves the taxpayers and the Department over $1 million annually.

The Reservists are encouraged to attend an Alabama Peace Officers Training Standards Commission (APOSTC) approved academy consisting of 480 hours of classroom training.  Training standards for Reserve personnel are controlled by the Sheriff of Jefferson County and are typically in direct correlation with those standards set by APOSTC.

Reservists who have begun or who have successfully completed the APOSTC qualifying academy are routinely hired by the Department for full-time positions.

Those Reservists who attain certification from APOSTC have full arrest powers.  According to court rulings in Alabama, certification is not required of Reserves to affect an arrest; but the final decision as to whether to allow these persons to affect an arrest lies with the Sheriff.

All Jefferson County Deputies (Reserve or Regular) must successfully complete the firearms qualification course annually.  Reservists are required to procure their initial issue of uniform items either through the Department's supply rooms for previously issued uniform items or by purchase from the approved uniform suppliers.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Reserve contingency members come from all walks of life.  They consist of students, full-time employed personnel, and retired personnel.  Some are skilled laborers, administrative, managerial, and other professionals.

The Jefferson County Reserve is covered by insurance through NRLO membership.

WEB AUTHOR NOTE:  NRLO is proud to report on the Jefferson County Sheriff's Reserve Deputies.  To learn more, visit their web site at www.jeffcoreserve.net .  The official site for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department in Alabama is www.jeffcosheriff.net.

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  NOTE: At the time of the enactment of the Alabama law reprinted below, Jefferson County was the only county with the required population of 600,000.

ALABAMA LAW
(Regular Session, 1967)
Act No. 529
H. 632 - Gafford, Kilgore, Holman, Waggoner, House, Crane, Sessions, Money, Jackson (T), Weeks, Bowers, Adwell, Meeks, Cook (J), Ellis, Watkins, Gloor

AN ACT

To apply only to counties having a population of not less than 600,000 inhabitants according to the most recent federal decennial census.  Providing for the appointment of reserve deputies sheriff: defining said reserve deputies sheriff and providing for he qualifications, authority, duties, compensation, bond and term of office of such reserve deputies sheriff and providing for the use of county equipment and liability of sheriff for acts of said reserve deputies sheriff.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:

SECTION 1.  In all counties having a population of not less than 600,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census, the Sheriff in such counties is hereby authorized and empowered to appoint reserve deputies sheriff to assist in the performance of duties and services of the sheriff of said counties.

SECTION 2.  Reserve deputies sheriff, as used in the Act, shall mean those reserve deputies sheriff appointed under authority of this act to assist the Sheriff in the performance of the Sheriff's duties.

SECTION 3.  Minimum qualification of reserve deputies sheriff shall be (a) not less than 21 years of age prior to appointment hereunder;  (b) high school graduate or holder of a certificate of high school equivalency;  (c) be of good moral character and reputation and never been convicted of a felony or aggravated misdemeanor.

SECTION 4.  Reserve deputies sheriff appointed under this act shall be exempt from making bond.

SECTON 5.  The reserve deputies sheriff shall serve at the pleasure of the sheriff and shall have the authority and duties as shall be prescribed by the sheriff.  However, such deputies shall not be authorized to execute the processes of courts issued in civil cases.

SECTION 6.  Reserve deputies sheriff shall receive no compensation for their services.

SECTION 7.  Reserve deputies sheriff are authorized to use county equipment under the direct or indirect supervision of the sheriff and at the expense of the county in performing the duties of office.

SECTION 8.  The sheriff shall not be liable for the acts of reserve deputies sheriff hereunder, except as provided by law for deputies sheriff.

SECTION 9.  The provisions of this Act are hereby declared severable, and if any of its sections, provisions, clauses, phrases or parts be held unconstitutional or void, the remainder of the Act shall continue in full force and effect, it being the legislative intent now hereby declared that this Act would have been adopted even if such unconstitutional or void matters had not been included therein.

SECTION 10.  This Act shall become effective immediately upon its passage and approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming a law.

APPROVED SEPTEMBER 8, 1967       TIME - 11:15 AM
I hereby certify that the foregoing copy of an Act of the Legislature of Alabama has been compared with the enrolled Act and it is a true and correct copy thereof.  Given under my hand this 18th day of September, 1967.
JOHN W. PEMBERTON, Clerk of the House

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NATIONAL RESERVE LAW OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 6505     SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78209
(210) 805-8917 FAX (210) 804-2463