Yakima Police Reserves Helping to Make Our Streets Safer

The next time people see a police car patrolling neighborhoods, it could actually be a reserve officer rather than a full time officer. The benefits are two-fold. It is saving tax dollars while still putting bad guys behind bars. KIMA Action News reports whether it is offering their time during retirement or simply juggling another job, Yakima's reserve officers are determined make people feel safer.

With 14 reserve officers in Yakima Police Department during 2012, officers were given some extra help. Reserve officers spent half their time patrolling Yakima's streets and people who live in Yakima say that makes them feel safer.

Being able to put more officers on the streets has saved money too. The time put forth by reserve officers is equal to that of about two full time officers. In other words, it has allowed the Yakima Police Department to do more with less.

About 4,820 hours of work were put in last year. That is more than 1,500 hours more than required all to make our streets safer. Some reserve officers find a bigger calling in their service. Last year, two reserve officers left the unit to become full time officers.