Reserve Deputy

The Rhea County Sheriff's Department's reserve deputy program established by Sheriff Mike Neal consist of 20 reserves. The reserves were authorized to focus on providing direct support to the Patrol Division.  Reserves serve in a volunteer non-paid capacity and many have unique civilian occupations which include knowledge, shills, and abilities different from those that might be expected in law enforcement.

Reserves are sworn, uniformed law enforcement officers who work with the Patrol Division.  They primarily ride with regular deputies, this providing a two person patrol unit.  As back up officers they enhance the safety of the unit and often eliminate the need and time necessary to bring another unit to a situation.  That further allows other units to stay in their districts and respond to more calls for service or assistance.

Qualifications to be a reserve are essentially the same as those of regular deputies.  This maintains the same high standards for all sworn elements of the departments.  To be a reserve deputy and individual must have graduated from high school, be 21 years of age, have no criminal record, have a valid Tennessee drivers license, have a drug free background, and undergo a background check.