Reserve-officer program is finalized in Liberty

Staff report

LIBERTY

The Liberty Township Board of Trustees met with members of the Liberty Township Police Union and finalized a reserve officer program Tuesday.

Due to budget and manpower concerns, the township has agreed to have officers-in-training perform the same duties and accept the same responsibilities as full-time officers, upon recommendation from the chief of police.

“By doing that, we are going to be able to put more officers on the road to safeguard the community, as well as more officers that can look out for each other,” said Liberty Township Police Chief Richard J. Tisone.

The agreement comes after a year of discussing different proposals. The new program will serve as a training platform for officers trying to become full time. Each unpaid reserve officer will be required to work a minimum of 24 hours per month. The reservists will work alongside a training officer until they become cruiser certified. They then will be permitted to work alone in a spare cruiser.

Officials hope to start the program within a month.