The Boulder County Sheriff's Reserve, first organized as the Sheriff's Mounted Patrol in 1958, provides a ready
resource of qualified, trained volunteer manpower to the operations of the Sheriff's Office.
The Reserve Unit is composed of three sections: the Field Operations Reserves, the Jail Reserves, and the
Sheriff's Volunteers.
The Field Operations Reserves: Are sworn, uniformed, fully state-certified deputies who are trained to
support the operations of the agency's Patrol and Detective Sections. Reserve deputies ride along as partner
officers on patrol, provide for traffic and crowd control at events, coordinate parolee registration, monitor Home
Detention clients for compliance with regulations, coordinate warrant sweeps, participate in surveillances, and
provide a ready source of trained manpower for virtually any situation.
The Jail Reserves: Are sworn, uniformed deputies; they need not be state-certified. They are trained to
support the operations of the County jail. They ensure the security of inmates and staff, assist with the booking
of prisoners, oversee inmate work details, and participate in transports and extraditions.
The Reserves must meet the same criteria for appointment as full-time deputies and must
complete the same level of testing and training. Applications
are accepted year-round, but applicant processing is coordinated with the full-time hiring processes. Following
appointment, Reserves are scheduled to attend an "on-the-job" field training program that is modified to
accommodate personal work schedules. Reserves are expected to commit at least 20 hours per month to the operations
of the Sheriff's Office, including attendance at a monthly business and in-service training session, held on the
first Wednesday evening of the month. The Sheriff's Office provides uniforms and ballistic vests; Reserves must
provide a weapon that meets agency standards, a utility belt, and appropriate footgear.
The Sheriff's Volunteers: Are a component of the Reserve Unit. They are non-sworn, non-uniformed,
non-state-certified volunteers, who are typically recruited to fulfill a specific function in the Field Operations
Division, supporting the Patrol and Detective Sections. For example,
volunteers coordinate the publication of a weekly crime summary, compile a Citizen Satisfaction Survey, and work
with individual detectives on basic case follow-up. Applications
are accepted year-round and processed as the need for someone to fill a specific function arises. Volunteers must be
at least 21 years of age, of upright moral character, and willing to commit a minimum of 20 hours a month to the
operations of the Sheriff's Office. Criminal history, driving history, and personal reference checks are completed
prior to conducting an interview with Reserve staff.
For additional information, contact Commander Phil West,
(303) 441 - 3621
