By Jackson Bell, Los Angeles Times
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE,Calif. — They might not pick up paychecks for their work at the Glendale Police Department, but that doesn’t mean the department’s reserve officers aren’t appreciated.
Several received various awards Thursday night at the Glendale Elks Lodge. The reserves, who are trained as police officers, have other jobs but give up their free time to help out with patrol, investigations and other areas of the department.
“They are special volunteers who are asked to go out and fight crime,” said Officer Mike Glassick, coordinator of the reserve program. “They do the same job as police officers without getting paid.”
The department has 19 reserve officers, but the number tends to fluctuate because many eventually become full-time officers, Glassick said, adding that about 45% of officers were reserves at one time.