Highlighted recently on the City’s YouTube channel at “CottageGroveMN,” is a way for local citizens to give back to the community, known as the Police Reserve.

“Police Reserve is a volunteer position within the city of Cottage Grove through the police department that is a way for us to give back to the community,” Police Reserve member Justin VanHalanger states in the video , then explaining more about the local police reserve.

“We drive around in a two mark squad car once a month and do various patrols,” he says. “We’ll do park patrols, business checks, various other patrols within the city, anything the officers need us to do.”

Local police reservists, while not taking on the duties of an ordinary police officer, are allowed to carry Tasers and assist the police department with things like impounding vehicles if the owner is arrested for such things as driving after suspension or a DUI, along with doing jail transports and giving motorists courtesy rides when their vehicles are towed. That’s not all the Cottage Grove Police Reserve does.

“We do various parades,” VanHalanger says. “So we’ll do traffic, make sure that no cars go out of line and that there’s actually the parade traffic on the parade route.” Van Halanger’s patrol partner Dale Garsteig explained more about the Cottage Grove Police Reserve.

“We don’t go as extensive as full-time officers do,” he says, “but reserves are allowed to carry Tasers and we do our monthly meeting as well.”

Among the items covered at training for police reserves are defensive tactics and vehicle approaches, along with different scenarios to help prepare for what they might encounter.

“We have to do eight hours a month,” VanHalanger states. “Most of us go above and beyond that eight hours,” this being defined as a six-hour patrol and twohour meeting. “Most of us do upwards of 10, 12, 14 hours of additional work, plus the events we do,” VanHalanger relates. “It’s nice being able to volunteer in a city where I grew up and interact with people and say ‘hey, it’s good to see you out here,’ and really build that rapport with people.”

As to those who might be interested in becoming a part of the Cottage Grove Police Reserve, there is an application and interview process, with readers directed to the city website of www.cottagegrovemn. gov or the number 651-458-2850.

“Anybody can do this,” VanHalanger says of the local police reserve. “It doesn’t matter what your background or field is.” ValHalanger’s partner Garsteig agrees.

“It is a rewarding thing at the end of the night,” he says of the Police Reserve. “You’re out helping keep the city safe.”

Cottage Grove Police Reserve Officer Justin VanHalanger describes his role as a member of the Police Reserve. Image from CottageGroveMN YouTube channel.