Garda Reserve Experiences

Bren1609 wrote: »

.......

I have stated unequivocally that I admire men who give up their free time to assist. I have stated that some who join are not there to help, but to bolster their own egos. I have said that I am not agreeable to the theory of the GR, what the govt says they exist for, (in place of funding of full-timers). I have stated that I will assist any GR in trouble, but am uneasy about training them in personally.

Where are the contradictions?

Senior management is generally accepted as the ranks of Supt, Chief Supt, Asst/Comm, Dep/Comm, and Commissioner.

I am not going for promotion as I doubt I am influential enough to get it.

EDIT: I've never stated what stations I've been in, nor where I am now. Where have I indicated to the contrary? I was in Pearse St for some overtime, but was never stationed there.

Bren1609

Joker aka Marcus Arelius aka Chief Admiral, it appears that you change your name as much as your opinions. Are you suffering from some form of bi polar or personality disorder. This is just unbelievable...

In one of your first posts you say:

Joker wrote: »

I see members babysitting them on the beat, I mean its a totally different ballgame for them and I think they seem to get in the way in our district, especially on public order work. They're described as immature, volatile and agressive and a bit stuck up. Some members are fed up to the back teeth with them.

However in one of your next posts you say:

Joker wrote: »

I've no problem with lads helping the GRs out, they are only learning after all. We're stuck with them and might as well help them out. But I ain't doing it , too risky for my taste.

But wait a second... you also said this:

Joker wrote: »

I hate the reserve idea, and the attitude displayed by many of them, just power/status hungry and aggressive tools without a shred of feeling for their fellow man.

and then...

Joker wrote: »

I have no working experience with reservists.

Although you did try and explain the last one by saying:

Joker wrote: »

I trust the opinions of my friends and have had drinks with several GRs.

Hang on, This one is great:

Joker wrote: »

The GR scheme is a pathetic stop-gap effort, nothing more. And if you really think that senior management give a flying ****, you are sadly mistaken. They ain't promoted for their ability to change things, they are "yes" men. Always have been, always will be. They only change the things that suit them, i.e. things that do not change the reality of the job.

So how did you get your promotion then?

On a more serious note, I find it a bit worrying that a senior member goes onto an online forum and denigrates his fellow members by calling them "aggressive tools" even though by his own admission has had no experience with and then gives the details of a station and unit he was promoted in.

The only reassurance I can find is that hopefully he is lying about his promotion because anyone who has been promoted rank in AGS would have about 8 years experience and I hope that a member with that much experience would have more sense than to insult volunteer members on an online forum.

Heh, heh. We'll leave that one to the GRA site, shall we?

Tempting idea, very tempting.

Why so serious?;)
Fair enough I didn't pick up on the hint about your rank. (bending over as we speak)
I didn't mean to come across as negative either, it's just that these trousers really chaffe. Most of the posters here are negative in relation to members (often) second-hand experience of reserves. Am I negative because I don't agree or because I believe we should give them a chance?

My point in relation to busy 24 stations and quiter stations is that each has pros and cons. The garda in a rural area who knows his public by name, gets knocks on his front door off duty and so on is doing as valuable a job as someone in a busy urban station. (There's plenty of people running around both with PULSE printouts trying to look busy too.)
Don't forget -those pesky criminals don't just ride up and down the DART all day, their country cousins have been known to commit crime too.
This is going way off topic, so maybe we should start an "anyone working outside the DMA hasn't a clue" thread?

deadwood wrote: »

Typical Traffic Corpse. I guess some pigs are more equal than others, eh?

I think my post hinted that I was a member of the Garda Siochána with a rank higher than garda. Which means I have a little more say in who I work with on public order.

From that point of view, yes, some gardaí are of higher rank and thus have some more privileges and more responsibility.

Your posts are quite negative thus far, nobody has questioned the fact that some subdistrict stations have a heavy workload because of low numbers. I experienced that and Pearse St when I was first promoted.

I'd take the workload of the rural subdistrict station any day over the constant barrage of rubbish coming through Pearse St/Store St.

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

And how much service you have means nothing if it was all sitting on your ass in the public office of a sub station in the arsehole of nowhere or a district office compared to someone with 5 years in a busy station.

You learn more as a probationer in Store Street, Pearce Street, Blanch, Ronanstown or Coolock compared to ten years in Dublin Airport or Rhode for example.

Sweeping generalisations there. Each area has it's own requirements. The man in store st. might have dozens of arrests ...from the same shoplifters robbing the same shops caught by the same security staff every day - but that'd be a generalisation too.
The man in the substation has to deal with every call in his area and the files will be waiting for him/her when they return from rest days/holidays. There's no leaving it to the oncomong unit.
It's all policing.
In saying all this, I suspect anyone who writes in textspeak isn't too long in the tooth either so maybe Stateofchasis has just completed his first 5 years.

TheNog wrote: »

How dare you slag off Rhode. I grew up there. :cool:

Yeah and I know the mule that spent the day trying to stay awake in the public office there! Its like the skipper on Craggy Island.

Fyr.Fytr

Oh right......................................

*Gives the nog a patronising pat on the shoulder* Good luck with that

TheNog

it says Im a truely handsome man with a great sense of humour!!!!!!

Fyr.Fytr

TheNog wrote: »

How dare you slag off Rhode. I grew up there. :cool:

Say's it all doesn't it!

TheNog

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

You learn more as a probationer in Store Street, Pearce Street, Blanch, Ronanstown or Coolock compared to ten years in Dublin Airport or Rhode for example.

How dare you slag off Rhode. I grew up there. :cool:

stateofchasis wrote: »

Some of the mules on here are talking rubbish. For starters, any mule with less than 5 years experience is in no position to criticise the garda reserve. If I was you I would concentrate on keeping my nose clean and never mind about where the resources and funds are coming from or how they being allocated, It's not your decision to make and won't be for some time. I see other people talking about babysitting reserves, sure ur still only babies urselves and if not u were at some stage. What an utterly ridiculous statement to make, bear in mind that some of these lads are 20myears older than ye. By the sounds of it most of the members on here have only passed out a wet week and are doing the rounds in traffic and are talking like they've been taking down gangland criminals and the like. There's more to being a guard than arresting people and If half of them had the same attitude as some of the reserves they'll go far in this job.In the final analysis lads, I'd suggest that you embrace what change comes along otherwise you'll only alienate urself and anyone with any prsopects of promotion will not go far if they're already displaying a bad attitude at this early stage of their career. The type of attitude that has been displayed here by other members is exactly what they're trying to stomp out at the moment.

And yet you insult all the users here with your second post. Hello Mr Kettle:p

And how much service you have means nothing if it was all sitting on your ass in the public office of a sub station in the arsehole of nowhere or a district office compared to someone with 5 years in a busy station.

You learn more as a probationer in Store Street, Pearce Street, Blanch, Ronanstown or Coolock compared to ten years in Dublin Airport or Rhode for example.

BTW there are members in task force, DDU, Drugs, Traffic, SDU and OCU after 5 years service with a lot of bigger captures compared to Inspectors and Supers who spent their lives getting promoted from one office to another.

stateofchasis

Some of the mules on here are talking rubbish. For starters, any mule with less than 5 years experience is in no position to criticise the garda reserve. If I was you I would concentrate on keeping my nose clean and never mind about where the resources and funds are coming from or how they being allocated, It's not your decision to make and won't be for some time. I see other people talking about babysitting reserves, sure ur still only babies urselves and if not u were at some stage. What an utterly ridiculous statement to make, bear in mind that some of these lads are 20myears older than ye. By the sounds of it most of the members on here have only passed out a wet week and are doing the rounds in traffic and are talking like they've been taking down gangland criminals and the like. There's more to being a guard than arresting people and If half of them had the same attitude as some of the reserves they'll go far in this job.In the final analysis lads, I'd suggest that you embrace what change comes along otherwise you'll only alienate urself and anyone with any prsopects of promotion will not go far if they're already displaying a bad attitude at this early stage of their career. The type of attitude that has been displayed here by other members is exactly what they're trying to stomp out at the moment.

darren254 wrote: »

what does SHO stand for??

Station House Orderly. A Sergeant thats in charge of the station and its security.

Other titles are 'Member in charge' which can be a Garda and is charged with the overseeing of all things connected with prisoners.

Section Sergeant, charged with the supervision and deployment of resources. IE they walk the beat and make sure that Gardai are doing likewise.

In reality though both Sergeants mix the jobs and cover eachother

metman wrote: »

In a big custody like Charing Cross where you've about 60 cells, its a busy old job.

Its a bloody horrible job is what it is which only ends with a headache and about 20 statements!

wicklaman83

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Just to clarify something here. Member in charge is not automatically the Gaoler. Larger stations operate a system whereas the SHO and member in charge is always a Sergeant who operates both roles. He then authorises a Garda to act as Gaoler.

The Gaoler then looks after the custody record and prisoners but has no authority to make decisions concerning their detention, etc. Been Gaoler hundreds of times but never member in charge.

what does SHO stand for??

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

The Gaoler then looks after the custody record and prisoners but has no authority to make decisions concerning their detention, etc. Been Gaoler hundreds of times but never member in charge.

Its similar here. The Custody Sergeant is in charge, and responsible for the welfare of the person detained.

The Gaoler is either a PC or DDO and does the cell visits, updates the custody record, takes the fingerprints, DNA and does the drugs tests, provides meals and drinks for prisoners, assists with searching of prisoners, and is responsible for letting prisoners out (for interview, doctor visits etc) and ensuring he knows where each prisoner is at any given time. In a big custody like Charing Cross where you've about 60 cells, its a busy old job.

Just to clarify something here. Member in charge is not automatically the Gaoler. Larger stations operate a system whereas the SHO and member in charge is always a Sergeant who operates both roles. He then authorises a Garda to act as Gaoler.

The Gaoler then looks after the custody record and prisoners but has no authority to make decisions concerning their detention, etc. Been Gaoler hundreds of times but never member in charge.

Joker wrote: »

I work:eek: in Traffic Corps. I don't go for public order overtime unless I get matched up with a full-timer. If I was a Garda, I would have no choice.

Typical Traffic Corpse. I guess some pigs are more equal than others, eh?

gilly2308 wrote: »

However in relation to the Reserves, again we are very limited, as we are not allowed to be a member in charge, and therefore are not allowed any responsibility for prisoners, are Specials allowed to look after prisoners Metman?

As CD posted, Specials can indeed act as Gaoler here and look after prisoners. We also have civvy DDOs (dedicated detention officers) who perform the same role, but mostly during daytime hours, so having a civvy look after prisoners isn't an issue here as its covered in the legislation.

civdef

When I was a Special way back when, I spent a good few evenings looking after POL1 (potentially self-harming) prisoners- and catching up on my reading at the same time. Wasn't exactly a bag of laughs or excitement, but it was as much a part of the job as anything else. Generally speaking, if the Sgt. saw you were willing to take on the boring jobs too, you got more respect for it, and wouldn't get stuck with it too often.

gilly0512

Karlitosway1978 wrote: »

Zone and Joker,
theres a big difference from supporting and helping a reserve with how too do things or if he finds himself under pressure while correctly doing his job (ie a public order prisoner) and covering him when he is acting the dick.

Zone,
Im pretty sure Joker would not suggest standing back and letting anyone be assaulted regardless of who, where or how.

As a Reserve I would support the immediate dismissal of any Reserve acting the dick, and I would hope that they are few and far between. In response to Metman, every reserve or special out there loves the thought of flying around in a squad car blue lighting it through their town or city in response to some incident, but at the end of the day I, and I would hope most other Reserves realise that we are there to free up regulars, so if this means station duty or foot patrol 95% of the time, so be it. However in relation to the Reserves, again we are very limited, as we are not allowed to be a member in charge, and therefore are not allowed any responsibility for prisoners, are Specials allowed to look after prisoners Metman?

Zone and Joker,
theres a big difference from supporting and helping a reserve with how too do things or if he finds himself under pressure while correctly doing his job (ie a public order prisoner) and covering him when he is acting the dick.

Zone,
Im pretty sure Joker would not suggest standing back and letting anyone be assaulted regardless of who, where or how.

Yes mate totally agree with you there on that, most jobs now of days you have to start at the bottom, and work your way up i think it is only fair you work your way around, and do what is required of you.

What irritates me and most of my colleagues is that every Special you speak to says they joined up to assist regular officers, which sounds fair enough and we're always glad of an extra pair of hands. However, try posting a Special as gaoler or station officer to free up a couple of regs, they'll moan and moan and simply not turn in for duty next time round, because 'its not what they signed up to do!' :eek:

Many Specials here think that they should be entitled to be out answering calls on blues because 'that's what police do'. My view is that if you want to do what the police do, then join the police. If you want to assist the police, then assist me by working on a community team, gaolering, or manning the front office and not moaning about not being out taking response calls. Funnily enough the majority of Specials I've met who have this attitude also are in jobs on civvie street where they earn good money and have nice lifestyles. As a hobby they simply want to do the more interesting and exciting parts of my job, without having to take a paycut and deal with the griefier and sh*ttier bits. Strangely enough I don't have much time for these types.

Yep was just throwing that into the pot LOL

here is the list of what they can do in the uk

What you'll be doing

Each of the 43 forces has their own special constabulary and what you'll find yourself doing is likely to vary. Unlike a Police Community Support Officer, you will have the same powers as a regular officer so you could find yourself:

helping in the event of accidents, fights or fires
road safety initiatives
house to house enquiries
foot patrol
helping safeguard public safety and security at local or major events
working in schools to talk about safety and crime
presenting evidence in court
'hotspot' operations to tackle underage drinking, criminal damage and nuisance/public order
offering crime prevention advice and promoting property marketing initiatives.

THIS IS FOR THE UK SPECIALS NOT IRISH GR

ZoneAlarm wrote: »

And maybe someday, the the Gr will get into traffic as well as the rest just like the Uk have done, i would say it will only be a matter of time before they follow suit here.

Just to pick you up on that.....Specials (GR equivalent) aren't permitted to join specialist units such as Traffic here. They're mostly used on neighbourhood/community policing teams and for reassurance work.

As an aside, I was annoyed to read in the paper today that Home Secretary Jackie Smith has announced an additional 2.5 million for recruitment of Specials, meanwhile the regs are still waiting for their agreed payrise...a payrise we were told the government couldn't afford......:rolleyes:

No bother mate glad you cleared that little misunderstanding up for me, perhaps one day you will get the pleasure of working with them, that way you will have first hand experience for yourself, and that way be able to judge for yourself.

I am sure all the old Gr have the hang of things by now what they should and should not do, so any of the new Gr can take their advice, on things they are not sure about.

And maybe someday, the the Gr will get into traffic as well as the rest just like the Uk have done, i would say it will only be a matter of time before they follow suit here.

ZoneAlarm wrote: »

So are you saying, that if you where out with a GR one night, and he/she got into difficulty, are you saying that you would not help or back them up, as they would back you up ? Or did i misunderstand you saying, that you would not do it,ie back them up as it is to Risky!! for your taste.?

I work in Traffic Corps. I don't go for public order overtime unless I get matched up with a full-timer. If I was a Garda, I would have no choice.

If one gets into difficulty, of course I'm going to help them. I said I wasn't interested in helping them learn about the job, i.e. walking the beat with them all day.

EDIT: Sorry for the confusion