With a big hug and an emotional crackle in his voice, Mayor Allan Kauffman welcomed his son Nicolas to the Goshen Police Department’s reserve police force Monday.
We too would like to welcome Nicolas and Deshone Harris, Kris Hershberger, Kyle Kalb and Damian Sherck to the reserve force. We believe their volunteer service to our community’s police department is an honorable self-sacrifice that will help many people in the years to come.
Indiana has a unique setup for reserve police officers. The vetting process for hiring a reserve officer is the same as that for a full-time paid officer. After reserves are is hired they train with full-time officers until department commanders feel they are ready to patrol on their own. Once that confidence is reached, reserve officers are allowed to patrol independently.
These volunteer officers are crucial to keeping police departments, large and small, functioning smoothly. When there is a demand for many police officers to man an event, such as First Fridays in Goshen or high school football and basketball games, reserve officers often fill that need. If reserve officers were not available, police department overtime budgets would be astronomical.
In return for their service in Goshen, reserve officers are given $500 annually for a uniform allowance. That’s a small sum that is not even enough to purchase a bullet resistant vest, let alone a holster and belt gear, jackets, caps, shoes and several uniforms. So, reserve officers make a financial commitment to their communities as well a sacrificing family time to help keep us all safe.
Some of the men and women on local reserve forces use the experience to decide if they want to pursue a full-time career in law enforcement. This is certainly a good way to do so, as some reserves are able to move on to full-time status at a local department. But most of the reserves are simply stepping up to make a difference in their community.
Every city and town needs law officers to keep the peace and bring order to the community. Being a police officer can often be a thankless job. Each day is filled with potential danger, and interaction with the public is often an onerous experience as officers remind people they are not allowed to speed or allowed to have their dog bark half the night.
Goshen residents are fortunate to have officers Harris, Hershberger, Kalb, Sherck and Kauffman willing to tackle these problems for them. We suggest that when residents encounter one of these men or any of our local law enforcement officers they greet them with a smile, a handshake and one simple word — “Thanks!”
Opinion
Related Photos
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Goshen mayor Alan Kauffman embraces his son Nicolas Miller Kauffman after he is sworn in as a new reserve officer at the Board of Works meeting Monday. AMANDA GRAY | THE GOSHEN NEWS
Reserve officers help keep communities safe
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