County sheriffs may now request and use volunteer posse and reserve groups for all of their listed duties, and have exclusive authority to regulate the organization and equipment of those groups when they act within the sheriff's authority and written policy.
Official title: sheriff; exclusive authority; auxiliary
- September 12, 2026
The law's markup doesn't clearly show what changed here.
The text of the law is the only authority. What this label means
What changes
BeforeThe sheriff may request the aid of volunteer posse and reserve organizations in the county in carrying out the sheriff's duties.
NowThe sheriff may request and use the aid of these organizations, and the law spells out that this includes the sheriff's core duties, such as keeping the peace, making arrests, running the county jail and serving court papers.
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NowThe sheriff has exclusive authority to regulate the organization and equipment used by a posse or reserve organization, or its members, when they are acting within the sheriff's authority and written policy in support of the sheriff's office, consistent with law.
Who it affects
- Members of volunteer sheriff's posse and reserve organizations
- County sheriffs and sheriff's offices
What you need to do
Nothing.
What the law doesn't answer
- What "exclusive authority" means for other bodies, such as county boards of supervisors, that might otherwise set rules for these groups.
- What kinds of equipment or organizational rules the sheriff may set.
- What happens to posse or reserve members who act outside the sheriff's written policy.
- Whether sheriffs must adopt or publish a written policy for these groups.
This summary describes the law as enacted. Later laws, court rulings or referendum petitions can change the picture. Check the official text for the current wording.