Police Reserve Officer Added in Eureka

Matthew Reim, a South St. Louis County resident, was recommended and approved at Tuesday's board of aldermen meeting as a reserve police officer for the city.

Reim works as a park ranger for the St. Louis College Parks and Recreation Department. He graduated with a law degree from Jefferson County Law Enforcement Academy in 2010. He also has a bachelor's degree in wildlife and conservation management.

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

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.

"A reserve police officer is a citizen volunteer who devotes his or her valuable time and effort toward creating a safer community. They wear the same uniform and badge that full-time police officers wear. They perform many of the same duties that a full-time officer does," said Wiegand.