Ephrata to train reserve officers

The Ephrata City Council approved a program designed to add 10 reserve officers to the police department.

EPHRATA — Ephrata is starting a new police officer reserve program.

The Ephrata City Council approved the program, designed to add 10 reserve officers to the police department, at a recent city council meeting.

Police Chief Mike Warren said the city will advertise the positions and the successful applicants need to attend the reserve academy in December.

“What we would do between now and the first part of December ... is we would do background (checks) on them, do polygraphs and the psych test, just like we would if we were hiring regular officers,” he said.

Then the department notifies the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, which holds the reserve academy, about how many officers they have, he said. The reserve academy costs $150 per person.

“We’re assuming we’ll have six applicants for this year. Then we’re making an assumption for the following year there will be four,” Warren said.

The city estimates the cost to outfit the officers will cost about $18,000 next year, according to city records.

Councilmember Ben Davis asked what type of work the officers will do.

“The process would be they’d go through the academy and then they’d have a (field training officer) afterward, which they’d be required to spend time with,” he said. “Once they’re done with their (training) they’d actually be able to function like a police officer.”

The department plans to use the reserves to increase the amount of officers working during the weekends and special events. Warren said the reserve officers won’t replace regular officers.

“One of the things that (City Administrator Wes Crago) and I talked about is we have a pressure washer and we could use them to go out and wash down the graffiti,” he said. “Once we got them through the training process and they got their uniform, then basically it’s free.”

Councilmember Bruce Reim questioned where the money for the December academy is going to come from.

Warren said there is some money planned for other items the department can use to pay for the training.

Davis asked if the reserve officers could help cut down on overtime costs in the department.

“It will be a benefit in that regard,” Warren said, adding the department can hire people from the reserves.”

For more information about the program, call the Ephrata police at 509-754-4601.