Community Policing Bureau - Garden Grove

Reserve Police Officers and Master Reserve Officers (MROs) work part-time, but whileon duty have the same policing powers as full-time officer. Reserve Police Officers aremen and women that either work full-time in another profession, or were once fulltimepeace officers that now wish to work only part-time. Throughout the year theymay work in the field performing various duties, such as Patrol, Gang Suppression,DUI checkpoints, Bike Patrol, and weekend prisoner transportation. Some are speciallytrained and conduct background investigations for new employee applicants.Reserve Officers also help to provide security at many community events, includingthe TET, Strawberry, and Korean Festivals, and the West Garden Grove Little leagueParadeMaster Reserve Officers are peace officers who have retired from a career in lawenforcement and have now brought with them their years of experience andexpertise to benefit the Department. MROs are assigned varying tasks throughoutthe Department, including rangemaster, armor, front desk, cold case investigations,CALEA Accreditation, and mobile computer support.Reserve Officers receive specialized law enforcement training as mandated by theState and Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST), and MROs are required toreceive continuing POST training to maintain their “perishable skills,” such as firearmsand tactics.Reserve Officers and MROs have been called upon to perform an increasing numberof tasks through the years, and have become an integral part of the city’s CommunityPolicing philosophy. Their many years of experience and dedication to the Departmentare a great asset and they set an excellent example for our newer officers.The Interfaith Volunteer and Chaplain programwas started in 1992 by Master Officer II PatrickBailey and remains a vital part of the Garden GrovePolice Department. The Chaplain program is verysuccessful and is designed to offer professionalspiritual assistance to members of the communitywho are faced with crisis situations, and to all policepersonnel and their families.The Chaplains reflect the cultural diversity of GardenGrove and represent many faiths, such as Christianity,Catholicism, Judaism, Muslim, and others. TheInterfaith Volunteer and Chaplain Program is boundby an established Code of Ethics, which ensuresconsistency in their conduct.Police Chaplains accompany patrol personnelduring their duty shifts and spend a great deal oftheir time in the field. As a result, Chaplains developclose relationships with civilian and sworn personneland ensure they remain a healthy member of ourpublic service staff. They make themselves availableshould a member of the Department or their familyneed them for spiritual counseling, to officiate at a wedding, or even provide funeral services, when needed. Departmentpersonnel have benefited from their contact with the Chaplains by increasing their knowledge and understanding of thecultures and religious practices of an increasingly diverse community.In October, the “The Moving Wall” Vietnam memorial was on display in Garden Grove for several days. The Chaplains wereavailable to talk to or counsel visitors who may have become overwhelmed by their emotions, as they viewed the half-sizedreplica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.