Garda Reserve Experiences

fermoyboy wrote: »

it's a rush for people to get out the door without being stuck with him!!

That's nice to know

well hopefully those that are currently in the Reserves that will be intending on going full time won't have the same attitude as that and will remember what it was like for them before becoming a full timer and the more reserves that go full time and that will be in stations with reserves attached to them the better it'll be for reserves especially the young one's starting out as they'll be with people who have time for them.

Chief Admiral wrote: »

They're described as immature and agressive and a bit stuck up.

Same can be said for full timers

Just interested, do all reservists intend to join the Gardai as a full-time member?

I realise potental applicants will want some insight before they commit to saying "veh-hickle" for 30 years but I thought the idea behind the Reserve was to involve people, who would have little or nothing to do with AGS, that wanted to give something back to their community.

Has it come to a stage where potential applicants will be asked in interview why they haven't joined the Reserve?

deadwood wrote: »

Just interested, do all reservists intend to join the Gardai as a full-time member?

No I wouldn't say all of them do but most of the younger ones like myself (I'm 20) would more than likely intend on going full time at some point,well that's what I'll be doing anyway

deadwood wrote: »

I realise potental applicants will want some insight before they commit to saying "veh-hickle" for 30 years but I thought the idea behind the Reserve was to involve people, who would have little or nothing to do with AGS, that wanted to give something back to their community.

Most of those that intend on joining full time do go into the reserves to get exactly what you said...insight into the workings of it but with attitudes that some full timers have towards the reserves can do more damage than good to them especially if they want to join full time.

The idea of the reserves is to involve people so that they too can police their communities along with the full time force also, so therefore they are part of the force.
They are giving something back to their community by policing it by giving their free time to do it

CO19 wrote: »

No I wouldn't say all of them do but most of the younger ones like myself (I'm 20) would more than likely intend on going full time at some point,well that's what I'll be doing anyway .

Most of those that intend on joining full time do go into the reserves to get exactly what you said...insight into the workings of it but with attitudes that some full timers have towards the reserves can do more damage than good to them especially if they want to join full time.

The idea of the reserves is to involve people so that they too can police their communities along with the full time force also, so therefore they are part of the force.
They are giving something back to their community by policing it by giving their free time to do it

Good on ye. Good reply. Don't let full tie members get to you. We moan a lot about our job, the dangers, hours etc..and when someone volunteers to do it for free, well......;)

deadwood wrote: »

Don't let full tie members get to you.

You're making it out like all Gardai bully the reserves!!!!

SOme of the younger people that join the reserves may well be decent skins that will join the job eventually and be an addition.

It's the older guys signing up for the reserves, the guys that never made the cut etc to join full time, that are the ones giving people bad impressions of the reserves.

We've got two of those in our station and the two guys in question are no addition whatsoever!!

May be different in other areas but frm my personal experience of them then then it's not working!

So does that mean you see all reserves as useless etc etc ? cause of the two where you are .
Reserves are an addition to the force as it is if they're used properly within the station they're in and also they themselves have to be into doing what they're doing and not just looking to wear the uniform otherwise yes they can be useless but it's different for each individual reserve with regards how they choose to carry out their role

Mountain Man

fermoyboy wrote: »

You're making it out like all Gardai bully the reserves!!!!

SOme of the younger people that join the reserves may well be decent skins that will join the job eventually and be an addition.

It's the older guys signing up for the reserves, the guys that never made the cut etc to join full time, that are the ones giving people bad impressions of the reserves.

We've got two of those in our station and the two guys in question are no addition whatsoever!!

May be different in other areas but frm my personal experience of them then then it's not working!

I have to agree with CO19 on this one. I'm one of these 'older guys' about to start GR training shortly. I believe I can bring alot of my own life experiences, 40+ years, to the GS. I've worked abroad for many years and have done varied and tough jobs in my time.

I have over 10 years service with Mountain Rescue, where I meet your colleagues on most occasions when we are called out, by the way, we are actually tasked by GS, and we work very well together and continue to do so.

I've coached a soccer team for the last 6 years, some of these kids have been with me since thet were 7. I'm very fit for my age, do a martial art and therefore can look after myself.

This is not I'm a great lad eulogy, I just can't understand your comment that your 2 GR's are of no addition. Surely, even if they released 2 full time GS in the station to go on patrol, that would be of some benefit. How are they giving bad impressions of the GR? Do the full timers put them straight if they do get out of line?

Regards,

An ould lad.

fermoyboy wrote: »

You're making it out like all Gardai bully the reserves!!!!

Certainly not, fermoy boy.
Maybe I should have said "don't let any full time members get to you."
If there is some ill-feeling there, I suspect it is fear of the unknown.
Members used to regard students with suspicion too but I don't think that's the case now.
Lets give them time - the Reserve is here to stay.

CO19 wrote: »

So does that mean you see all reserves as useless etc etc ? cause of the two where you are .

The two where I am, the others in the district and the opinions of other Gardai I've spoke too...give me the opinion I have of the reserves!!!

Ahhh right I see

well the Gards in my local station are useless,arrogant and go round acting the big 'I am' so does that mean you's are all like that ?? no- but all reserves are the same yeah? ok so

It's gas, we're always hearing Gards and others saying 'don't tar all Gards the same cause of a few bad one's (way more than a few might I add) yet there's one after doing that to all the reserves from only knowing 2 and gathering the rest from hearsay

:rolleyes: .

CO19 wrote: »

Ahhh right I see well the Gards in my local station are useless,arrogant and go round acting the big 'I am' so does that mean you's are all like that ?? no- but all reserves are the same yeah? ok so
It's gas, we're always hearing Gards and others saying 'don't tar all Gards the same cause of a few bad one's (way more than a few might I add) yet there's one after doing that to all the reserves from only knowing 2 and gathering the rest from hearsay :rolleyes: .

I think he makes a fair point there, fermoy boy. We've been throwing out the "few rotten apples" defence for long enough. Shouldn't we give the reservists a break?

CO19 wrote: »

It's gas, we're always hearing Gards and others saying 'don't tar all Gards the same cause of a few bad one's (way more than a few might I add) yet there's one after doing that to all the reserves from only knowing 2 and gathering the rest from hearsay :rolleyes: .

Where did I say I only know 2???

I haven't tarred all the reservists with the same brush. Outside the job they may well be very decent people. Even some of the ones willing to give up their free time to try help may be decent folk. But as reserve Gardai with no powers then I feel they are of no addition to An Garda Siochana.

deadwood wrote: »

I think he makes a fair point there, fermoyboy. We've been throwing out the "few rotten apples" defence for long enough. Shouldn't we give the reservists a break?

The ratio of rotten apples to decent Gardai is pretty low when you consider the size of the force.

Again I'm not attacking anyone on here who may be a reserve (even if some of them do insist on putting a winking smiley after evey post!!) Like I say, they may be decent people outside of their volunteer work.

Marcus.Aurelius

deadwood wrote: »

I think he makes a fair point there, fermoy boy. We've been throwing out the "few rotten apples" defence for long enough. Shouldn't we give the reservists a break?

No, I don't think so. The attitude that allowed the reserve to even be contemplated is beneath contempt. They're a sorry excuse for full-timers and I feel sorry for them being caught in the crossfire between rank and file Gardaí and thoroughly incompetent ministers and senior officers.

We should be fully equipped and well trained, these reservists are a sorry compromise.

fermoyboy wrote: »

Where did I say I only know 2???

fermoyboy wrote: »

The two where I am, the others in the district and the opinions of other Gardai I've spoke too...give me the opinion I have of the reserves!!!

Is that not where you said you know 2

is it more now ?

fermoyboy wrote: »

I haven't tarred all the reservists with the same brush. Outside the job they may well be very decent people. Even some of the ones willing to give up their free time to try help may be decent folk. But as reserve Gardai with no powers then I feel they are of no addition to An Garda Siochana.

So in the job they stop being decent people ? and to be a reserve you have to give up your free time to do it in the first place

.
Yes at the moment they have limited powers but that will change so I wonder then what the argument will be against them .

And as far as dealing with reserves, I've come across 4/5 in Dublin city over the last few years and they were brilliant and I'd rather be dealt with by them than the full timer they were with anyday, they were more interested in helping than the full timer was ,so what addition to the force was those full timers that were with the reserves then ?
Most of the full timers that go out with reserves are very appreciative of them and have relied on them in several occasions when things got rough so I can see how they are no additon.

CO19 wrote: »

Is that not where you said you know 2 is it more now ?.

No, that's where I said there's 2 where I work, not that I only know 2!

CO19 wrote: »

And as far as dealing with reserves, I've come across 4/5 in Dublin city over the last few years and they were brilliant and I'd rather be dealt with by them than the full timer they were with anyday, they were more interested in helping than the full timer was ,so what addition to the force was those full timers that were with the reserves then ?
Most of the full timers that go out with reserves are very appreciative of them and have relied on them in several occasions when things got rough so I can see how they are no additon.

Maybe while the Reserve was trying to save the world with no powers the Garda realised that the matter in question may have been nothing to do with the Gardai and wanted to deal with more important matters!!!!

Now you are the one throwing hearsay into your argument by saying most of the gardai that deal with part-timers appreciate them. I'm guessing you know a very very low percentage of Gardai so have no idea what the general perception of part-timers is.;)

Being robbed and hit I suppose is a bit too much to be expecting the Gards to help you with I suppose, true.

I actually know a fair few,some of my family are in it and friends and I know most of them and the lads at their station who are in regular contact with reserves who don't think like you thank god.
So what will your opinion of them be when they do eventually get more powers ?

yayamark

Who said there getting more powers?

Nobody said that they were but they will eventually now whether thats a year or more down the line.

metman

I imagine the force will sanction the GR getting more powers once they integrate and prove their worth. At present I imagine it must be very frustrating for GR members who cannot intervene in PO situations without the assistance of a regular member.

At the present time this situation is tolerated as the GR is still a relatively unknown quantity. Just wait for caselaw and litigation to catch up.....

CO19 wrote: »

Being robbed and hit I suppose is a bit too much to be expecting the Gards to help you with I suppose, true.

I actually know a fair few,some of my family are in it and friends and I'm very fortunate to be able to go out along with one member of my family in particular quite regularly

Does this mean what I think? You (not a reserve, yet) out on "duty" with your family:eek::eek::eek:

CO19 wrote: »

I actually know a fair few,some of my family are in it and friends and I'm very fortunate to be able to go out along with one member of my family in particular quite regularly and I know most of the lads at his station who are in regular contact with reserves who don't think like you thank god.
So what will your opinion of them be when they do eventually get more powers ?

Would you be tolerated in a station where people hadn't known you before you went there? Having a family member there to tel the lads 'he's alright' kinda gives you an advantage over other members.

And regardless of how many you know, it is still a very very small percentage of the force so there's no way you can know what the general feeling is towards the Reserves.

If the Reserves do eventually get some powers and use them properly and help lighten the work load a bit for the Garda on the street then I will have no problem with the Reserves.

However at the moment, the way the Reserve is set up, and the fact that they can do nothing to actually help, means I have no time for the set-up and do not think it helps.

Eru

Guys try to remember that every single person becomes a 'peace officer' if and when they are assisting Gardai. If thats a reserve, security guard or binman is not the issue. The issue is they are helping you deal with the violent drunks killing eachother outside McDonalds.

Thats alone means you should at least show some respect towards them. Its not their fault the whole thing was handled wrong.