New Police Reserve Officer Appointed in Eureka

officers recommended Robert Powell to become a reserve police officer, and the approved him at the March 6 meeting. Reserve officers serve communities for free, but have the same certifications as paid officers.

Powell graduated from the Eastern Missouri Police Academy, and completed Eureka's employment process.

He is an Internet technology engineer for SSM Health Care, is married and lives in Ellisville, MO.

Two other reserve officers were added to the Eureka Police Department, and the . Eureka Police Chief Michael Wiegand said one of them, , was since fully employed by another police force.

Wiegand said Eureka's city ordinance caps the total number of reserve officers that can be serving the city at any one time at six.

Eureka police reserve officers are community members who volunteer their time to fulfill many of the roles handled by full-time sworn police officers, he said.

Reserve officers receive the same training as full-time officers and work alongside them in every aspect of departmental operations, Wiegand said. Reserve officers are required to work a minimum of 12 hours every month and attend regular training classes.