Fort Worth is preparing to resume its reserve police officer program, after suspending it in March 2011.

The city suspended the program when questions arose about whether the City Council had approved each reserve officer. Another question arose regarding whether a city with civil service for police could maintain a reserve force. The Texas Attorney General determined several months ago that the city could maintain a reserve force.

Police are drafting general orders for a reserve force, the city staff said in a memo to City Council members Friday.

The reserve program will be part of the patrol bureau, and not a separate division as in the past. There will be no ranks in the program, other than probationary reserve officer and reserve officer, unlike in the past. Reserve officers can work a minimum 15 hours a month and up to 20 per week. A minimum 560 hours training will be required to become a reserve officer.