Phoenix reserve police officers praised for stopping bank robbers

PHOENIX - Five days a week, Rick Hyde works at an impound lot doing office work and reuniting people with their impounded cars.

"Shuffle paperwork, check to make sure people have valid driver's license, make sure the vehicle has valid registration, valid insurance," Hyde described.

But a few days a month, the 31-year law enforcement veteran breaks out of his routine and puts on the badge and uniform again, and heads out on patrol duty.

"I still ride my motor on the weekend, and write tickets, and investigate collisions and respond to criminal calls," he said.

One of those calls came in on Saturday, when several suspects robbed a Phoenix bank on Happy Valley Road.

Hyde was on patrol close by, and managed to catch up with the suspect vehicle.

Together with air support from fellow volunteer Sam Farris the suspects were taken into custody.

"Fortunately it was close to the airport, so we were able to launch and get overhead in under a minute, saw the suspects running, and throwing guns and money, just like Hollywood, so it was a good catch," Farris said.

Hyde and Farris are part of the Phoenix Police Reserve.  It now boasts 150 volunteer officers with full training who volunteer their time to keep the community safer.

"It gives me a good feeling that I am doing something, contributing something. I want to be able to feel that I made the world a better place. Sometimes it's a little piece at a time, and sometimes you're lucky and get to contribute a big piece at a time," Hyde said.