Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nSEMINOLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE NUMBER:
G - 53
GENERAL ORDER
RESCINDS:
SUBJECT: Reserve and Administrative Reserve Programs
EFFECTIVE: March 27, 1995
REVISED: April 14, 2025
Table of Contents:
I. Purpose
II. Scope
III. Definitions
IV. Reserve/Administrative Deputy Sheriff Training
V. Performance Evaluations
VI. Reserve/Administrative Deputy Sheriff Responsibilities
VII. Operational Procedures
VIII. Reserve Deputy Sheriff Equipment
IX. Administrative Reserve Program
I. PURPOSE:
This directive describes the function, duty and responsibility of the Reserve Deputy Sheriff and Administrative
Reserve programs.
II. SCOPE:
Reserve Deputy Sheriffs support full-time law enforcement personnel in the delivery of quality law enforcement
services to Seminole County communities. As such, this program is recognized as valuable component of a
modern, progressive law enforcement agency.
III. DEFINITIONS:
A. Reserve Deputy Sheriff:
A person appointed by the Sheriff as a part-time volunteer Deputy Sheriff who has met the training
academy requirements as prescribed for full-time law enforcement officers by the Criminal Justice
Standards and Training Commission, and who has successfully completed the prescribed field training
curriculum required by the Sheriff’s Office. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are not required to work under the
direct supervision or control of a Deputy Sheriff, but are subordinate to supervisors to whom they are
assigned for duty.
B. Administrative Reserves:
Administrative Reserves have sworn authority as granted by the Sheriff, but have no powers of arrest.
Administrative Reserves are persons desiring to retain their CJSTC certification in the event they should
one day chose to re-enter the law enforcement ranks.
GENERAL ORDER
Reserve Deputy and Administrative Reserve Programs
GO # 53 PAGE 1 OF 8\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nD. Community Services Lieutenant:
The Specialized Services Lieutenant coordinates and supervises the administrative requirements of the
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Program.
IV. RESERVE DEPUTY SHERIFF TRAINING:
A. Any person designated as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff must successfully complete a Florida State mandated
recruit academy training program prior to any assignment in which he/she is allowed to carry a weapon
or is in a position to make an arrest.
B. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs will receive in-service training equal to that required for fulltime Deputy
Sheriffs performing like functions. This training will include the full Field Training Deputy Program (as
set forth by the Professional Development Section), including weapons and arrest-control techniques
(formerly response to resistance) policy training. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are tested for firearms and
weapons proficiency with the same frequency as fulltime Deputy Sheriffs.
C. A training file for each Reserve Deputy Sheriff is maintained by the Professional Development Division.
D. Following their appointment by the Sheriff, Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are required to enter the applicable
field training program as designated by the Professional Development Section according to their position
classification. Field training must be completed within 18 months of appointment Reserve Deputies,
unless an extension is authorized by the Professional Development Lieutenant.
1. Should a field training extension be authorized, a memorandum indicating such will be issued
by the Professional Development Lieutenant and placed into the Reserve Deputy’s training
file/record.
E. All field training is coordinated by the Professional Development Lieutenant, or designee. Accordingly,
it is the Professional Development Lieutenant’s responsibility to ensure that Reserve Deputy Sheriffs
are given access to training bulletins and written directives, that they are scheduled and participate in
training, that they complete required courses of instruction to maintain their certification, and that they
are given performance evaluations in accordance with the General Order Performance Review System
(see below).
V. PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS:
A. Reserve Deputies are required to receive quarterly evaluations when they enter field training, and annual
evaluations thereafter. They shall be subject to the same evaluation policies and standards as full-time
Deputy Sheriffs.
B. The completion of performance evaluations is coordinated by the Professional Development Lieutenant,
or designee.
C. Annual evaluations are conducted for Reserve have completed their field training at the end of each
calendar year by a Supervisor of the Region/Section/Unit to which the Reserve Deputy is assigned. Once
completed, annual evaluations are sent to the Community Services Lieutenant for inclusion in the
Reserve Deputy’s file. The Community Services Lieutenant will ensure each evaluation is sent to the
Human Resources Division, as well as provided to the Accreditation Section as part of the CALEA
requirements.
VI. RESERVE DEPUTY SHERIFF RESPONSIBILITIES:
A. Sheriff’s Office selection criteria for Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are predicated on successful completion
of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission’s academy curriculum. Additional agency
GENERAL ORDER
Reserve Deputy and Administrative Reserve Programs
GO # 53 PAGE 2 OF 6\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nselection criteria include written application, background investigation, testing, medical and
psychological examination, and oral interview, which is the same as that for full-time Deputy Sheriffs.
B. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs may be assigned to non-law enforcement duties as operationally
needed/required. It is recognized that if Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are to become proficient providers of
law enforcement services (even on a part-time basis) it is essential they are familiar with all operations
of the Sheriff’s Office. At the discretion of the Specialized Services Lieutenant, Reserve Deputy Sheriffs
may be required to work in a uniform/patrol capacity for a specified timeframe in order to remain
proficient in all job functions, including certain perishable officer safety skills and training.
C. Meetings are called, as necessary, to keep Reserve Deputy Sheriffs informed of general agency updates,
dissemination of information, resolve any problems or conflicts, and to conduct training. Reserve
Deputies must have authorization and/or permission from the Community Services Lieutenant to be
excused from unit meetings. Failure to attend these important meetings may result in disciplinary action
in accordance with the General Order, Discipline.
D. Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are required to volunteer a minimum of 60 hours per quarter unless they are
specifically excused by the Community Services Lieutenant. Excused training is documented on logs
maintained by the Community Services Lieutenant. A Reserve Deputy Sheriff who fails to meet the
minimum hour requirement without approval may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with
the General Order, Discipline.
E. Following appointment by the Sheriff, each Reserve Deputy is responsible for obeying all written
directives of the Sheriff’s Office, and are issued a set of written directives by the Community Services
Lieutenant as well as given access to the written directives site maintained on the agency’s intranet
(SCSOnet). In addition, Reserve Deputy Sheriff’s receives any/all written directive/policy updates and/or
revisions through PowerDMS and are required to read and sign off electronically within 5 days of
receiving policy updates.
VII. OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES:
A. General:
1. Full or part time Sheriff’s Office employees who hold positions in the following job
classifications may not serve as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff:
a. Field Service Officer (including Civil FSO)
e. Detention Deputy
f. Breath Test Technician
g. Breath Test Coordinator
h. Evidence Technician
i. Evidence Supervisor
j. Latent Print Analyst
k. Latent Print Manager
l. Crime Scene Supervisor
m. Crime Scene Analyst
n. Senior Professional Standards Detective
p. Crime