SPD Reserve Officer Program fills gaps and offers opportunities to serve community

In December of 2022, The Sheridan Police Department announced the swearing in of their first officer of the new Reserve Police Officer Program.

Meagan Phillips was the first officer to be sworn into the SPD Reserve Police Officer Program but in a turn of events that benefited both parties, Phillips became a full time officer on the SPD. On March 15, the second officer, John Maholick was sworn into service and continues to be a reserve officer for the department. 

Developed by SPD Lt. Dan Keller after extensive research into the practice and policies utilized by departments around the country, the program prepares reserve officers for service through the same training requirements as full time officers. 

While appearing on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Keller explained the benefits of a reserve officer program for the City of Sheridan. 

Reserve officers must meet the same training requirements as full time officers, they wear the same uniform and are authorized the same policing and arresting authority as their full time counterparts, all of which are paid for by the City. But, reserve officers are volunteers. Although the City provides workers compensation coverage, the reserve officers are not paid positions. 

Reserve Officer Maholick is a retired Police Officer from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. With years of experience in one of the busiest cities in the world, Maholick is glad to share his experience with his fellow full time officers, but is quick to admit he has much to learn about policing a small city. Maholick said Sheridan has accepted him and his family and although he feels his time as a full time officer has come to a conclusion, he found the Reserve Officer program to be a good fit and offered him an opportunity to give back to his new home.

The Reserve Officer Program is not intended as a recruitment tool for potential full time officers. But is intended for those residents who wish to learn something new and build a camaraderie while  serving their community.

If one feels up to the challenge to become a reserve officer with the Sheridan Police Department, contact Lt. Dan Keller at 307-672-2413 or email at dkeller@sheridanwy.gov.