Programs - Minnesota Police Reserve Officers Association

Programs

+ The Minnesota Police Reserve Officers Association has identified three principal areas of need in which to serve reserve law enforcement officers: Training, Support, and Recognition. The MPROA’s programs are organized accordingly.

Training

+ Agency Training Sponsorships
Reserve police officers and reserve deputy sheriffs need quality, comprehensive training to do their jobs safely and effectively. Unfortunately, the limited resources of law enforcement agencies and continual budget cuts often mean that the training of volunteer officers is forgone by the operational needs of agencies. The MPROA seeks to assist reserve units by sponsoring training events for reserve officers. Grants are awarded for all kinds of training. Restrictions apply. Please contact the MPROA for details.

+ Multi-Agency Training Sponsorships
The MPROA believes that the public is better served when law enforcement agencies at all levels of government cooperate and pool resources. Police and sheriff’s reserve units in many parts of Minnesota already work together by providing mutual aid assistance for special events and during emergencies, and some counties currently host training academies for new reserve officers. The MPROA encourages reserve units in neighboring jurisdictions to join forces and train together. Special consideration is given to grant requests made by multiple agencies working together. Restrictions apply. Please contact the MPROA for details.

+ Conferences & Seminars
The MPROA hosts an annual Spring Conference at a location somewhere in Minnesota. Participation is open to all reserve police officers and career police officers, as well as all law enforcement and public safety personnel in Minnesota and surrounding states. The Spring Conference features a keynote speaker, general training sessions for all participants, breakout sessions for elective training or training for specific audiences, and a banquet lunch that features the presentation of the Minnesota Police Reserve Officer of the Year award, Reserve Police Leadership Awards, and recognition of the President’s Volunteer Service Award recipients.

Support / Funding / Grants

+ Bullet Resistant Vest Initiative
The Minnesota Police Reserve Officers Association wants every reserve law enforcement officer in Minnesota to return home safely after each shift. Many law enforcement agencies either cannot, will not, or simply are unable to purchase vests for their reserve officers. To help remedy this issue, the MPROA will pay for 100% of the cost of any new vest, up to $300 per vest. Many vests are currently available at or around $300 from vendors across the nation. Reserve Units wishing to purchase vests over $300 may do so but are required to pay the difference involved.. Alternative funding sources to help pay the costs differentials are currently available through Federal grants. There is no limit to the number of vests you request funding for - please > contact the MPROA to get started. Most grant requests take approx 2 months to process.

USDOJ - Bulletproof Vest Partnership :
> http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bvpbasi/

GRANT APPLICATION PROCESS :
MPROA Grant Request Process PDF

+ Equipment Donation
Does your reserve unit need equipment that your agency’s budget doesn’t provide? Many reserve units have special equipment needs. The MPROA considers grant requests for items such as Tasers, police bicycles, life preservers etc.

The MPROA monitors bills introduced to the Minnesota Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives. We will make you aware of bills that would adversely affect you or your reserve unit and help you contact your representatives in government.

MPROA Legislative Watch page coming soon!.

Contact Director Jeremy Shackle, by e-mail at > jeremy@mproa.org for additional information.

Recognition

+ Reserve Police Officer of the Year Award
Every year, Minnesota’s finest volunteers demonstrate selfless courage and remarkable skill in the face of personal danger as reserve law enforcement officers. We wish recognize the most notable of these acts with a special award. Every law enforcement agency in Minnesota is invited to nominate a reserve officer for this prestigious award (or multiple officers for the same incident). Three finalists and one award winner will be chosen from the nominees and recognized during a lunchtime presentation at the MPROA Spring Conference. (Finalists and guests are invited to attend the conference free of charge.) Finalists’ agencies will receive duplicate plaques for public display at their police station or sheriff’s office. Agencies and officers are not required to be members of the MPROA to participate in this program.

+ Reserve Police Leadership Award
In law enforcement agencies across Minnesota, hundreds of men and women go beyond the call of duty behind the scenes managing reserve units and serving their agencies in leadership roles. They are reserve unit commanders, field training officers, reserve sergeants, and rank and file officers leading special projects. Let’s not forget the career police officers that serve as coordinators and liaison officers as well as sheriffs, police chiefs and administrators that advance the cause of reserve policing with progressive policies and practices! Any person involved in reserve law enforcement can nominate a reserve officer, career officer, or civilian for this award. Finalists will be recognized with plaques during a lunchtime presentation at the MPROA Spring Conference. (Finalists and guests are invited to attend the conference free of charge.) Finalists’ agencies will receive duplicate plaques for public display at their police station or sheriff’s office. Nominators and recipients are not required to be members of the MPROA to participate in this program.

+ President’s Volunteer Service Award Sponsoring Organization
You can find more information about the President’s Award > Here

+ Ronald E. Perry Lifetime of Service Award
The Board of Directors of the MPROA is proud to announce the creation of another award to recognize reserve law enforcement officers for their volunteer service. In 2006, the MPROA created the Lifetime of Service Award to recognize those exceptionally dedicated officers who have served for at least 30 years. The award is named for its first recipient, Ronald E. Perry, who retired from the Minneapolis Police Reserve after 42 years of service, including 15 years as chief of the police reserve.

+ Quarterly Unit Spotlight
Every calendar quarter the MPROA shines the spotlight on a police or sheriff’s reserve unit somewhere in Minnesota. The chosen reserve unit is invited to submit a brief narrative describing their unit’s duties, training, accomplishments, and history, as well as a group photograph. The spotlight article will be featured on the MPROA web site and in the MPROA newsletter, Reserve Beat. The agency will receive a handsome plaque for display in the police station or sheriff’s office and a press release will be sent to the local newspaper in the city or county served by the reserve unit. To recommend a reserve unit for the Spotlight visit the MPROA’s web site or send a letter to the Board of Directors. Reserve units and officers are not required to be members of the MPROA to participate in this program.  