Bates, a former cop who served one year on the force in the mid 1960s, has donated thousands of dollars in cars, guns and other equipment to Tulsa police, the World reported earlier this week. The department has a program that allows wealthy benefactors to ride along with active officers as deputies.
According to a department spokesperson, Bates is one of many wealthy people in the 130-strong reserve deputy program.
“There are lots of wealthy people in the reserve program,” Maj. Shannon Clark explained to the paper. “Many of them make donations of items. That’s not unusual at all.”
The footage came from sunglass cameras similar to ones recently bought for officers by Bates, said Clark. She could not confirm if he donated those specific cameras.
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http://www.businessinsider.com/robert-bates-shooting-video-2015-4#ixzz3XChc0KOASoooooo apparently they have a reserve program. We don't so I am not too familiar with the program. From what I know, some departments supplement their staffing with reserves. Many are former police officers or retired police officers that wish to keep their certifications. In exchange for working for free, they remain certified. This is the first I've heard of a program rewarding people who donate to the department.. I think obviously this Tulsa program needs to be examined with a microscope. Other departments with Reserve Officer programs better re-examine theirs to make sure they have qualified, trained people working with them.
