Sheriff's Reserve Deputies 

Reserve Deputy Sheriffs are volunteers who are utilized to supplement the Shelby County Sheriff's Office law enforcement manpower. Just like their full-time counterparts they are professionally trained and duly sworn.   Make no mistake, they have the same arrest powers and are generally assigned the same duties. 

The Reserve staff performs general law enforcement duties, including crime prevention, investigations, responds to incident calls, control traffic, and enforces the laws of the State of Ohio.   Many Reserve Deputies assist for special details such as the Hickory Hills Country Concert Festival, many local community festivals and parades, the Shelby County Fair, and other local high school sporting events.   

Reserve Deputies include a variety of professionals such as maintenance technicians, teachers, firefighters, EMT's, accountants, investment brokers, and even people who own their own business. 

The Reserve unit has its own rank structure and the deputies are provided routine in-service training as well as specialized training throughout the year.  In addition every Reserve Deputy is expected to attend a monthly meeting. 

In order to maintain their commission, Reserve deputies are required to serve a minimum of ten (10) hours per month, but most greatly exceed this minimum. The Reserve unit totals approximately 10,000 hours per year in voluntary service with more than 90 percent of that in direct law enforcement and crime prevention activities. 

If you reside in Shelby County and are interested in becoming a Reserve Officer for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office contact Sheriff Lenhart at (937) 498-7833.