City of Perth Amboy, NJ Auxiliary Police Force

There is hereby established within the City of Perth Amboy an auxiliary police force to be known as the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police Force. This is a volunteer organization whose members shall be unarmed.

§ 95-21 Requirements and qualifications.

In order to qualify for consideration as a member of the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police Force, each applicant shall:

Be a resident of Middlesex County, with preference to residents of the City of Perth Amboy and, alternatively, to residents of municipalities in the vicinity of the City that do not maintain a police auxiliary force;

Be at least eighteen (18) years of age;

Have obtained a high school diploma or equivalency diploma (GED);

Submit to a thorough background investigation;

Not be a member of the regular police force of the City of Perth Amboy or any other municipality.

§ 95-22 Chain of command.

The chain of command of the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police Force shall be as follows: the Perth Amboy Emergency Management Coordinator and/or Chief Law Enforcement Officer shall supervise and be responsible for all such operations. Under the Emergency Management Coordinator and/or Chief Law Enforcement Officer, there may be the following positions within the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police Force (listed in descending order), each of which shall report to the next highest position: One (1) Auxiliary Police Chief; one (1) Auxiliary Police Deputy Chief, Auxiliary Police Captains, Auxiliary Police Lieutenants; Auxiliary Police Sergeants; and auxiliary police officers. Training officers may be designated from the membership at the discretion of the Police Chief.

§ 95-23 Probationary period; promotions.

All recruits/members will begin at the position of probationary auxiliary police officer. Following the completion of Police Auxiliary Academy training and completion of a one (1) year probationary period, all members must serve at least two (2) years of active duty, exclusive of the aforesaid probationary period, before being eligible for promotion. Promotions will be made from existing members in good standing.

§ 95-24 Rules and regulations.

The Emergency Management Coordinator and/or Chief Law Enforcement Officer shall be empowered to promulgate rules, regulations, and policies necessary to effectuate the purposes hereof, including, but not limited to, all aspects of recruitment, designation of uniforms and equipment, and operations of the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police force within the budgetary constraints of their respective office or department.

§ 95-25 Training.

Any duly appointed member of the Perth Amboy Police Auxiliary Force may be attached to the Perth Amboy Police Department for the purpose of training. As required by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer and Emergency Management Coordinator, members shall participate in periods of training over the course of their membership in the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police Force to acquire and maintain skills and current techniques.

All auxiliary police officers are required to successfully complete a basic training course for auxiliary police prior to taking an oath of office.

§ 95-26 Duties in the event of declared emergency.

The Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police force, under the direction and supervision of the Perth Amboy Emergency Management Coordinator and/or Chief Law Enforcement Officer shall respond to:

Any local disaster emergency, as declared by the Emergency Management Coordinator in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et seq.

Any emergency, as declared by the Governor of the State of New Jersey in accordance with N.J.S.A. App. A:9-30 et seq.

§ 95-27 Uniform, equipment and identification.

The City will provide the uniforms and other equipment to all members of the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police Force. No firearms of any kind shall be issued or carried by members of this organization.

While on duty, all members shall, at all times:

(1)

Be uniformed in a manner which is clearly distinctive from that of a regular police officer within the City of Perth Amboy; and

(2)

Wear a badge or display identification indicating membership in the Perth Amboy Auxiliary Police Force, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.6

Each member shall maintain all City-owned vehicles, bicycles, or equipment assigned to the member.

§ 95-28 Legal authority.

Auxiliary police personnel are not regular sworn police officers. N.J.S.A. App. A:9-45 states that auxiliary police shall have the powers of a regular officer only during a declared emergency, disaster, or assigned training mission.

Regular police officers, regardless of rank or assignment, shall not relinquish their authority to any member of the police auxiliary.

Auxiliary police officers shall obey the instructions of any regular police officer except as provided in the Perth Amboy Police Department Rules and Regulations.

Powers granted to the auxiliary police can be restricted and controlled in accordance with applicable laws, statutes, guidelines, and directives issued by the New Jersey Legislature, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, New Jersey Attorney General, Middlesex County Prosecutor, City Council, or the Chief Law Enforcement Officer.

Auxiliary police personnel are covered by state and federal statutes for compensation insurance in case of death or personal injury only when on duty during a declared emergency, disaster, or assigned training mission.

Auxiliary police officers are provided with public liability protection equal to that provided to regular police officers.