Ronan City Council moves closer to reserve program
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RONAN — The Ronan Police Department could soon have a new reserve police officer program, if the city council gives their final blessing at an upcoming council meeting.
On July 20 the council moved Police Chief Ken Weaver’s proposal for a reserve police officer program to a second reading, despite some lingering concerns stemming from problems that arose with reserve officers under a previous police chief.
“I appreciate the research and effort you have put into this,” Councilmember Chris Adler said. “I am going to be the optimistic one to say yeah, we should do this.”
Councilmember Marlene Melton also gave her support, but Councilmember Ellen Kaphammer was not totally sold on the idea.
“I’m just not sure we are ready for this yet,” Kaphammer said.
Councilmember Cal Hardy said he was also on the fence about the program. Hardy said the Montana Public Officer Standards and Training has done a lot to clarify questions about training standards for reserve officers in the past year, but he is still unsatisfied with some of the answers.
Weaver’s program would allow people with an interest in law enforcement to complete an 88-hour state-sanctioned program that would let them work under the supervision of full-time, on-duty officers.
“If there is not a full-time officer on duty, there will not be a reserve officer working in a patrol car,” Weaver said.
The officers would not be used in lieu of a full-time police force, Weaver said. They would be unpaid volunteers.
The possible reinstatement of the program was moved to a second reading.
