Many people seem to be ignoring one of the main points of Zorab's post, that is that there are civilian air observers so the constant debate on whether it would be possible to train a non-police officer to be an effective air observer is really null and void as it has been done. It's like debating whether we should invent the motor car to replace the horse and carriage - it's already been done.
There are many points worthy of debate - selection, training, benefits, costs, the extent of civilianisation etc but you cannot debate whether civilians can be observers because they already are.
There are police officers who make bad observers and non-police officers who make good observers, sorry but that's the way it is.
I echo all that Zorab has said and, if he is who I think he is, he would know.