Found the training requirements for the Tulsa City Police Dept. (not the Sheriff’s office) They attend 8 months of training! And then spend 4 months with a field training officer. A reserve officer takes the same training as a regular paid officer.
 
Many police depts. across the nation use “Reserve Officers or Reserve Deputies” who volunteer their time, money and take a risk each shift they work. Once they complete the academy they have to keep up on the required training to remain certified.
 
There are many question about what happened and why a 73 old  man would be involved in a high risk arrest situation? I think most of the questions will be answered at his trial.
 
https://www.tulsapolice.org/join-tpd/tpd-reserve/reserve-applicant-requirements.aspx

Reserve Applicant Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age. There is no upper age limit.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and reside in or near the Tulsa metropolitan area once accepted.
• Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Must not have been convicted in state or federal court for any felony or crime of moral turpitude, or crime of domestic violence.
• Must pass a written aptitude test and physical ability test.
• Must pass an oral assessment and a background investigation
• Must complete the Background Information Request Form.

Requirements After Acceptance

• Must have fingerprint clearance from the FBI and OSBI.
• Must have an approved psychological assessment.
• Must pass a medical examination including a drug-screening test administered by the City Physician.
• Must attend training at the Tulsa Police Training Center for eight (8) months. Upon completion from the academy, graduates will be assigned to Field Training Officers for four (4) months. Training will be provided on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and some weekends.

Candidates are required to purchase academy uniforms and other academy class supplies. The Tulsa Police Department, however, will furnish police uniforms, basic equipment, and training. 

Last edited by Common Sense (4/14/2015 1:02 pm)

The State set the training standards. Tulsa follows state law.

Standards for training and certification of peace officers:
Title 70, Section 3311, of the Oklahoma Statutes establishes minimum standards for the training and certification of peace officers. The Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET) derives its authority from this statute.

You seem to want to judge all reserve officer's do to this one inicdent?

They should not be judged because of what happened with this shooting.
Remember  as you say a “professional” officer shot an unarmed man running away? In the back. There can be problems with both paid and volunteer officers.
 

Common sense, they are volunteers,, good for traffic control at the county fair.
They should not be involved in sting operations with dangerous criminals.
He might have just as easily killed another officer.

This whole story just reeks of incompetence and corruption.  I believe the guy made an honest mistake and is remorseful, but, IMO, there should be no such thing as a voluntary, reserve police officer.  That's just stupid.

TheLagerLad wrote:

The Man wrote:

This whole story just reeks of incompetence and corruption. I believe the guy made an honest mistake and is remorseful, but, IMO, there should be no such thing as a voluntary, reserve police officer. That's just stupid.

I just think it's a poor policy on the Tulsa police force's part. Reserve volunteer officers can be helpful. In NYC, they help with parades. In L.A., they perform desk duty. I think they could act like Fire Police due in rural areas and small towns, directing traffic around accident scenes. 

What they shouldn't do is be dressed in regular officer uniforms and carrying a firearm as if they are regular police.

 
Yeah that I agree with.  Being full fledged, gun-carrying officers is what a volunteer should not be allowed to do.