Proud to serve Galway

Seventeen years into volunteering for the Garda Reserve, and Michael Ryan from east County Galway still gets shivers when he dons the dark blue uniform at the beginning of each shift.

The 60-year-old, who works full-time in Medtronic, was part of the second-ever intake of around 50 Reserve volunteers when he first signed up in April, 2008.

As one of the longest-serving reservists in the country, he is keen to share his experience for a role he clearly loves.

“When I’m putting the uniform on I feel very proud. I feel that I’m going in now, and maybe I’m going to help someone, or some persons today. I’m going to do the right thing, and I’m going to be helpful,” he says. “I think maybe the satisfaction of helping people because you’re in a position to really help people is the main benefit, and – maybe it’s me, or other reservists like me – I feel like I really am giving something back to the community.”

Garda Reserve recruitment

An Garda Síochána has announced a major recruitment drive for Garda Reservists across the country, and especially in the Galway District where Reserve numbers have dwindled over recent years to just 20 officers from a peak of 64 after a long pause in recruitment. The force aims to have 1,000 Garda Reserve members enrolled by 2026, up from the current muster of just 341.

Ryan recommends all applicants read the handbook which accompanies Garda Reserve application forms from PublicJobs.ie, and talk to local gardaí about policing to get an idea of the reality of donning the uniform.

Although reservists are always – for now- accompanied by a full-time Garda member, their powers have gradually been increased by the Garda Commissioner since 2007, and reservists are now fully attested officers with nearly all the legal powers of arrest and investigation as their full-time colleagues. Most of the garda powers exercised by a reservist fall under the Road Traffic and Criminal Justice Acts, and a Reserve member may apply for a court summons under these pieces of legislation.

“There's two types of people that this is good for: someone who maybe wants to volunteer in their community, maybe who once considered being a garda at some stage, but maybe now went past the age bar. This is a good idea and I would say come and try it; but I would also ask any young people who are in college doing degrees and thinking about joining the guards full-time: go into the reserves first to see what it’s like.”

Progression to full-time

Since Ryan joined the Garda Reserve, 17 of his colleagues in the Galway Division have gone from the Reserve to become full-time officers. “But equally important, we’ve also had a few over the years who wanted to go full-time, but after doing the Garda Reserve for while, they’ve realised that ‘no – this is not a career for me’. And that is a positive outcome; instead of maybe enrolling in the Garda College without any experience, and maybe leaving halfway through your training or in your early years because it’s not the right fit.”

Under new rules introduced in 2015, reservists can now apply to become full-time gardaí in a special application stream if they have performed satisfactorily over a set period of time.

There is no pay for Garda Reservists, although out of pocket expenses are refunded – such as attending court – plus an allowance is paid depending on the number hours on duty. This ranges from €500 for more than 50 hours served in a year, to €3,000 for over 200 hours.

“The biggest perk is the satisfaction,” says Ryan. “You become part of a family, and your unit really does become a family with Christmas parties, retirement dos, and good advice from experienced people.”

Ryan says there was some opposition to Reservists from Garda representative organisations in the early days. “Occasionally attitudes weren’t great back then, but over the last ten to twelve years in particular, the way the Reserve is run from Garda HQ is much more professional, and how all the [senior officers] have bought into the Reserve at a local level makes a huge difference.”

Balancing policing with job

Balancing work and volunteering does take a bit of time to work out, but it is flexible, and Ryan says he mentally compartmentalises his Garda duties when in uniform so as to better concentrate on his full time job “as in reality that’s what pays the bills!” he jokes.

“You’re not forced into shifts if you don’t want to do it,” says Ryan, who volunteers a lot of weekends now that his three children are grown up. “There is always flexibility and you’re not under orders like a full time member.” He explains that a Reserve member is assigned to a specific unit in a nearby 24-hour Garda station, but never in their home neighbourhood. Once a month he contacts his sergeant, and tells him what hours he is available for the following month.

Ryan usually does a 12-hour shift, or sometimes a six-hour half shift. He may be out on foot patrol, as an observer in a vehicle, or engaging in community policing tasks like giving talks in schools and other venues.

The current round of Garda Reserve recruitment is open until next Thursday, July 4. Those interested may join up by submitting a detailed application online which includes a self-assessment questionnaire. Applicants will then be separated into groups with the first cohort set to be interviewed (via Zoom ) by September, and then subsequently as numbers dictate. After interviews, applicants deemed eligible will be sent forward for medical examination and vetting before being invited to attend around five weekend training sessions in the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary.

There is no fitness test for the Garda Reserve, although good physical health is recommended, and applicants with a disability are encouraged to contact recruiters directly. The age requirement is 18 to 59, and the minimum educational requirement is a Leaving Cert or other Level 5 NFQ award. Irish, EU, EEA, Swiss and British citizens may apply, as well as registered refugees and others who meet specific residency requirements.

Behind the scenes

Ryan says the ability to stay calm, and “just think about things” are key traits a potential applicant needs to hone. Although there are ‘fun’ perks to the role, such as getting to attend major events like matches or festivals, there is also the reality of attending a road traffic accident or the aftermath of a suicide. Reservists are assigned to a tutor officer, they receive peer support, and may access further Garda supports if required.

Getting to look ‘behind the scenes’ of an Garda Síochána has been an eye opener for Ryan, with the quantity of paperwork being the greatest surprise. “The amount of time and energy that is put into even small incidents. The public don’t see it, and although the public can be critical or give out to us, there is an unbelievable amount of work done in the background.”

What advice for applicants? “Do look at that handbook long and hard. Don't rush into it. It is hard work. I will highly recommend it if it's something you really want to do.”

Ryan has received commendations from the Garda Commissioner, but is too modest to describe what for. At some prodding, one personal highpoint does leak out: “I was on duty at a Connacht match at the Sportsground when a lad wearing just a thong decided to run around the pitch at half time in front of families and children. I had to rugby tackle him before the thong came off. The gas thing was, after the match, one of the coaches came over and goes: “Nicely done, are you free on Tuesday nights?”

Applicants are invited to contact [email protected] with any questions.