Trained volunteers from the community who have an interest in law enforcement will now be able to assist the Albert Lea Police Department as reserve officers.

The Albert Lea City Council on Monday approved a police reserve program, which will be used to supplement the existing duties of the department, such as for crowd control for special events or for funeral escorts, to name a few.

Albert Lea Public Safety Director Dwaine Winkels said he hopes the program will have eight reserve officers by June.

Reserve officers must be U.S. citizens who are at least 18 or older. They must have a high school diploma or GED, along with a valid driver’s license and successfully pass a screening.

The reserve officers will go through field training, learning everything from CPR, first aid and firearm safety, Winkels said.

Though the officers will be provided with a uniform of the Albert Lea Police Reserve, they will not carry or have access to firearms and will not be able to make arrests.

Winkels said the startup costs are estimated at about $2,500, which he said has already been included in the Police Department’s budget. There are also grants available for it in the future.

He said the program was formed after a committee of officers conducted site visits to other cities where a similar program has been a success. More than half of the department participated in some stage of planning.

Similar programs are in the surrounding communities of Austin, Owatonna, Mankato and Waseca, according to the City Council members.

Winkels said the effort was led by Albert Lea Police Department Lt. Darin Palmer.