Honoring the Phoenix Police Reserve Officers

Last week I had the pleasure of attending a ceremony at Phoenix City Hall, where city leaders formally accepted a donation of five new and fully-equipped Police Tahoe vehicles to the Phoenix Police Reserve Division.  The donation was made by the Phoenix Police Reserve Foundation, which was formed by community leaders and provides equipment to the reserve officers that could not be funded by the city budget.

The Phoenix Police Reserve Division is now recognized as one of the best police reserve organizations in the country, with 135 men and women serving the community as volunteer full-authority police officers while also continuing their chosen careers. It is inspiring to think of the dedication it requires for a reserve officer to complete the same rigorous training as career officers, with no reward other than the knowledge that they’re helping protect the community. When the ten latest graduates of the Reserve Police Academy were introduced at the donation ceremony, they received a standing ovation.

The City of Phoenix has another reason to appreciate their service: last year its reserve officers donated more than 39,000 hours of their time, with a total value of more than $2.4 million. During the ceremony, Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris also noted that 2009 has seen a 25 percent reduction in property crime and 17 percent reduction in violent crime, thanks to the tireless efforts of all its law enforcement officers.

For nine years, Panasonic has been working closely with the Phoenix Police Department, and we were proud to honor the selfless contribution of their reserves by donating five Toughbook 30 computers to be mounted in their new Tahoe vehicles. Other major sponsors of the Foundation that made the donation possible include Walmart, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Qwest and the Phoenix Suns.

If you’re interested in learning more about the foundation or making a donation, please visit http://www.phxpdreservefoundation.org.