HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 07-16 Police reserves won't be at fair THE REVIEW Maplewood, Minnesota Single Copy 30` WED.,JULY 16, 1980
Unit in rebuilding period
Police reserves won 't be at fair
By MARY LEE HAGERT force will be available to back up the THE RESERVISTS had been riding in who are staying with the unit will be
sheriff's reserves if problems occur,said squad cars on weekend nights and were working together to revise the program,
This year,Ramsey County Fair goers Tom Hagen, Maplewood deputy police worried about their own safety if they Delmont said. He foresees the reserve
will not be seeing the Maplewood police chief. were in the vehicles unarmed. officers duties changing under the new
reserves at the annual event on July 23-27. The difficulties with the Maplewood Last month, the police department program.
Due to a squabble over whether or not reserve force began last spring, when mailed the 21 reserve members letters "It won't be mandatory for the reserves
the reservists should carry guns, nine Police Chief Richard Schaller ordered the asking if they wanted to continue on the to ride in the police squad car in the
members have quit the unit.According to officers to stop carrying gum on May 1. force. future," Delmont said. "Instead, the
the Maplewood police, the volunteer He issued the order because he was According to Lt.Dennis Delmont,seven reserve officers will be doing other things
reserve program is in a "rebuilding" concerned that some of the volunteers did members decided to resign because they that are meaningful and helpful to the
period and will not be available to patrol not have enough shooting-range practice. believe their safety would be jeopardized city.They might give talks at schools or
the fair. His order was given about the same if they continued to serve unarmed.Two work with the crime prevention
The Ramsey County Fair Board will be time a new state law took affect that members indicated they had"put in their program."
calling on the county sheriff's reserves to mandated reserve officers in larger cities time and were ready to quit the force," Before any revamping of the unit is
provide police protection at the event. can not carry sidearms. said Delmont, who is in charge of begun, Delmont said, the questions of
The sheriff's department has promised revamping the reserve program. funding sources and who controls the
to activate its reserve staff,and says they Under the new law,volunteer reserve Eight members decided to stay with the reserve unit must be decided.
will police it(the fair)as well as it has officers can carry gum if they are unarmed force and Delmont has been The reserve officers are under the
been policed in the past,"said Duke Wald, elevated to parttime status.This would unable to contact four members. supervision of the Maplewood emergency
a fair board member. require additional training, testing and The police department has received preparedness department.In the past,the
In previous years, the Maplewood insurance coverage,which could be ex- applications from two people who would police have appointed a liason officer to
reserve force has patrolled the pensive.These factors were influential in like to join the reserve unit, Delmont coordinate schedules and messages
fairgrounds on foot,policed the parade Schaller's decision to unarm the reserves. commented.The police are planning to between their department and the
and had a mobile headquarters with an On April 24,the Maplewood city council begin a recruitment campaign to bring emergency prepardness office.
emergency first-aid booth at the fair. upheld Schaller's decision. This the unit up to its former membership. The police would like to have the
displeased many of the reserve officers, reserves become a part of their depart-
' THE REGULAR Maplewood police who went"on strike"May 1. THE POLICE and the eight persons ment.