The NOPD is encouraging all metropolitan area citizens who are interested in becoming a police officer to apply for the upcoming Reserve Police Academy.

There will be three levels of Reserve officers:

Level One

Level one would be a fully functional police officer who has completed all required additional consent decree training and FTO program, in addition to the POST Academy. These officers will be eligible to work paid details and will receive a once a year uniform allowance of $750.00. The participant must be at least 20 ½ years of age and must pass a drug and background check. Level one officers would be allowed to make traffic stops and work details.

Level Two

Level two would be a fully commissioned officer, who wears the full NOPD uniform, has completed the full POST Academy, is in field training and attending additional required training. The participant must be at least 20 ½ years of age and must pass a drug and background check.  A level 2 officer will be allowed to wear a uniform, but they CANNOT work alone and must be with a fully trained NOPD officer.

Level Three (Civilian Volunteer)

Level three would be a non commissioned member who volunteers to assist with traffic control, barricades and citizen support during major events such as Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, etc. To qualify for a civilian volunteer position, the participant must be at least 18 years of age and must pass a drug and background check. 

Anyone interested in applying for the Reserve Police Academy should visit JoinNOPD.org and register as a Reserve candidate, rather than a full time position. From there, the application will be processed just like a normal officer, where the individual must pass all the pre-hire qualifications that a full time paid officer candidate would be required to pass.

The Reserve Police Academy is anticipated to begin in late summer and will last about 7 months. Participants will attend class two nights a week for 4 hours and all day on Saturdays for that period.

For more information regarding the Reserve Police Academy, please visit JoinNOPD.orgor contact Troy McConnell at 504-401-3413 or TpMcconnell@nola.gov.