Honolulu Police Department - Reserves

Reserves

Back in 1941, to provide for any eventuality that may occur, Honolulu Police Chief William A. Gabrielson and the Oahu Police Commission set out to establish an emergency police reserve force. 150 business and professional men responded to the call for volunteers. The Federal Bureau of Investigation helped to screen interested applicants, and 124 candidates were appointed on July 23, 1941. They completed the required training and within four months became commissioned Honolulu Police reserve officers. When enemy planes attacked Pearl Harbor, the police reserves responded to the attack. Since then, reserve officers have augmented the regular Honolulu Police Department force with many man-hours of volunteer police work. The Honolulu Police Reserves are composed of men and women from the community who volunteer each week to work alongside regular police officers. A police reserve officer must be willing to serve without compensation or financial obligation from the City and County of Honolulu. A police reserve officer is required to report for duty at least once a week for a minimum five hour tour of duty.

Police Chaplains are also considered reserve officers in their duties to the department. They are commissioned officers without police powers. The Chaplain corps assist the Peer Support Unit in responding to crisis and intervention with officers and employees of the department. Chaplains have distinguished themselves within their profession and the general law enforcement community.