Four new reserve police officers sworn in during ceremony in Gustine. Here’s how they’ll help

Four new reserve officers with the City of Gustine Police Department were sworn in during a ceremony Tuesday evening.

Entering the room to the sound of bagpipe music performed by the San Jose Police Emerald Society, the new officers took their oath prior to the regularly scheduled City Council Meeting at Gustine City Hall.

“Anytime we bring on a new officer to our department, to our police family it’s always exciting,” said Gustine Police Chief Ruben Chavez. “And I always want to make it a big deal, because it is a big deal.”

According to Chavez, anyone seeking to become a police officer has to overcome multiple challenges such as background checks, psychological and medical exams and the field training officer program. Chavez said the process is difficult.

“It seems like we’re getting fewer and fewer people interested,” Chavez said. “So anytime you bring on an officer onto a department it’s really exciting.

“We’re bringing on four officers as reserve officers and that’s why I like to bring in the bagpipes because it’s a big ceremony.”

According to Chavez the new reserve officers joining the police force is not just a big deal for the department, but also for the city and the community.

In their roles as reserve officers, the officers will not only be entrusted with responding to calls for service, as well as helping the police department during the numerous festivals and events that occur throughout the year.

“The more officers you have on the streets, the more visible they are in the streets, the more visible they are in the community and crime goes down. So I’m really excited about that,” said Chavez.

The Gustine Police Department is currently budgeted for eight full-time officers, consisting of a Chief, Lieutenant, Corporal and five officers, according to Chavez.

The reserve officers roles are volunteer roles with specific schedule. Chavez said reserve officers can be compensated for their time if they work a beat or work a festival for example.

While the department likes to have the reserve officers work two shifts a month, some of them even like to work every weekend, according to Chavez.

“If you have a (full-time) officer that’s working by himself, (a reserve officer) can jump in the car with him, now you’ve got a two-man car,” said Chavez.

That allows officers to have backup with them when responding to calls for service. “It’s a lot safer for officers when they have an extra person in the car,” said Chavez.

According to Chavez, the department has filled 10 of the allowed 12 reserve officer positions.

Chavez said the Gustine City Council has been supportive of the department’s efforts to keep the community safe. The department has been able to acquire body camera’s and tasers, as well as riot gear, during Chavez’s time leading the department.

“The number one thing is not only being safe, but feeling safe, said Chavez. “If you come to Gustine, we want you to feel safe. I think that’s key, having the officers out there making our community safe and allowing our members to be safe.”

According to Chavez, the Gustine Police Department shares resources with other agencies, such as the Newman Police Department, located about four miles away.

“You have officers here that respond to Newman PD if they need some assistance,” said Chavez.

Gustine police officers respond to help them out if they need backup and Newman officers respond in the event Gustine officers need backup, according to Chavez.

“It’s kind of a synergistic effect if you will, having multiple agencies respond to different calls,” said Chavez.

Joining the Gustine Police Department as reserve officers are: Christian Poteat, Emanuel Gonzalez, Arthur Rincon and Harjot Gill.

Poteat was born in Mexico City and grew up in Ciudad Nezahualcoyotl, before moving to San Jose at the age of 12, and studied Administration of Justice at Evergreen Valley College, according to Chavez.

Poteat has worked for the San Jose Police Department and multiple other agencies ,including Daly City Police Department and the Campbell City Police Department before joining the Broadmoor Police Department.

Chavez said Poteat is a full-time officer in Broadmoore and will also be serving as a reserve officer in Gustine.

Also taking the oath Tuesday was reserve officer Emanuel Gonzalez.

According to Chavez, Gonzalez was born in Turlock and grew up in Livingston, where he graduated from Livingston High School before attending Merced College.

He graduated from the community college with three Associate of Arts degrees: in Administration of Justice, Diesel Technology and Agriculture Technology. In addition, Gonzalez graduated from the Delta College Police Academy in Stockton.

Arthur Rincon took the oath Tuesday, too.

Rincon was born in Fremont and graduated from the New Haven Adult School in Union City before joining the United States Army, according to Chavez.

During his time in the army, Rincon was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Ga., where he worked to refuel military aircraft. In 2007, Rincon was deployed to Iraq for a 15-month tour of duty during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

After his honorable discharge from the military in 2010, he pursued a career in private security working in the Bay Area and join the National Guard, and was stationed in Fresno, where he continues to serve.

During his time with the National Guard, Rincon has been deployed to multiple large wildfires throughout the state as well as to San Francisco during the George Floyd riots, according to Chavez. Rincon is a 2022 graduate of the Delta College Police Academy.

Another officer taking the oath as a reserve officer Tuesday was Harjot Gill.

Gill was born in Redding and moved to Manteca before moving to Merced and graduating from Merced High School, according to Chavez.

Gill worked at his family’s store and gas station in Livingston when younger before his parents sold the business in 2019.

Gill returned to Redding and studied psychology at Shasta College before graduating from the Delta College Police Academy in Modesto in 2021. According to Chavez, Gill currently works as a security officer in Patterson.

Gustine City Manager Anna Nicholas said the newly hired reserve officers will be able to assist and be part of the community, especially during the numerous community events held in the city throughout the year.

“We are a very small staff and so anytime we can bring some new people onboard and welcome them to the team, we love to do so,” said Nicholas.

Nicholas said the added presence of the four new reserve officers to the small town is a welcome and comforting feeling to the community.