Shaq Reenters Law Enforcement

You may have heard that former NBA basketball player Shaquille O'Neal has worked as a reserve police officer.  Just recently, he reentered law enforcement.  Now he is a reserve police officer for the Doral Police Department in Florida.

A reserve police officer in most police departments are sworn police officers who volunteer their time on a part-time basis.  In most cases, they have the same authority as a full-time police officer, which means they can issue traffic citations and make arrests.  Some departments do limit the powers and duties of reserve officers.  Obviously, they must undergo training; however, it may not be as extensive as their full-time counterparts.

Many police departments big and small have a reserve officer program.  Reserve officers are utilized to supplement patrols, assist with community events requiring a police presence, provide extra manpower for natural disasters and civil unrest situations, and anything else that keep the regular full-time officers on the streets. Most departments require their reserve officers to work a minimum of 16 to 24 hours a month.

Reserve officers consists of men and women who typically work other full-time jobs as doctors, teachers, firefighters, computer professionals, and other professionals.  Reserve officer programs give people who have other full-time jobs the opportunity to be a police officer and serve their community without giving up their full-time job.

Deputies Arrange for Nine Year-Old Boy 600 Miles Away to Join Sheriff's Hunting Trip for Kids

Chester County Sheriff Alex Underwood announced that he planned to take some local kids hunting. A nine year-old Chester County, PA boy, who so wanted to go, wrote a letter expressing his intent. When his mother and he delivered the letters to their sheriff's office in Pennsylvania, they learned that Chester County where Sheriff Underwood was at was in South Carolina, 600 miles away. The boy was heartbroken.


Nevertheless, the Chester County, PA sheriff and Chester County, SC sheriff worked to make the boy's wish come true.



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PoliceOne's Top Five Acts of Kindness Caught on Camera in 2014

This past year, lots of acts of kindness by police officers in 2014.  Many more acts of kindness by police officers did not get caught on camera and they probably did not ask for any recognition.  Most members of the public do not see this side of police officers.

Here are the top five.

Officer Has Lunch With Student to Satisfy Lost Bet

Northeastern Regional (Pennsylvania) Police Officer Corey Sheaffer came upon a sixth grade boy whose basketball was stuck in the basketball hoop.  Officer Sheaffer freed the ball and challenged the sixth grader to make a basket.  Officer Sheaffer promised to eat lunch with him if he made the basket.  The sixth grader made the basket.

Here is the rest of the story.

School Resource Officer Helping Financially Strapped Students

A Florida school resource officer has been providing financial assistance to students at the school she has been assigned to.  Financial assistance has gone towards food, medication, and a funeral for a student's mother.  Recently, she opened a GoFundMe.com account to raise money for her efforts.

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