Chapter 2.24
AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE

Sections:

2.24.010    Established—Appointment.

2.24.020    Duties.

2.24.030    Membership.

2.24.040    Identification card and badge.

2.24.050    Dismissal—Resignation.

2.24.060    Commanding officer.

2.24.070    Powers.

2.24.080    Compensation.

2.24.090    Liability.

2.24.100    Volunteer firefighters’ relief and pension benefits allowed for police reserve officers.

2.24.110    Participation in volunteer firefighters’ relief and pension plan for police reserve officers.

2.24.120    Terms.

2.24.010 Established—Appointment.

There is created and established a civilian auxiliary police force of up to twenty members. Each member shall be appointed by the police chief with the approval of the city council. The civilian auxiliary police force shall function under the supervision of the police chief. (Ord. 668 § 1, 1996: Ord. 227 § 1, 1963).

2.24.020 Duties.

The duties of the civilian auxiliary police force are to supplement the regular police force in the event of a major disaster affecting citizens of the city, to aid in the control of traffic and maintenance of order at parades, and general policing of large assemblies of people, and, in case of a declared emergency, to assist the regular police in the protection of life, property and preservation of peace and order. (Ord. 227 § 2, 1963).

2.24.030 Membership.

To be eligible for membership in the civilian auxiliary police force, each applicant must file application with the city marshal, indicate his willingness to serve an average minimum of eight hours per month in the public service, meet the qualifications and requirements prescribed by the police department for membership in the auxiliary police force, complete the training program, be appointed by the city marshal, take an oath of office and be sworn in.

Members of the civilian auxiliary police force shall:

(1)    Be a citizen of the United States;

(2)    Be over the age of twenty-one years;

(3)    Be a resident of the city or live within fifteen miles of the corporate limits of the city;

(4)    Be trustworthy and of good moral character;

(5)    Not have been convicted of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude;

(6)    Not be a member of any group or organization that, nor be of the moral persuasion that, prevents the bearing of arms in the defense of the United States;

(7)    Have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and have no D.W.I. convictions within the last five years;

(8)    Must complete a first aid class and receive a valid card within six months of being hired;

(9)(A)    Must within six months of hiring date complete a training course as set by the chief of police and reserve unit policy, which includes one hundred twenty hours of training and patrol,

(B) Must within one year from date of hiring complete and pass an approved police reserve academy course of instructions, as set by the city or the state;

(10) Complete a course in, and pass an examination on, all subjects deemed necessary for civilian defense in the event of nuclear attack, as prescribed by the director of civil defense, as may be amended; such course shall be completed within six months from date of hiring;

(11) Must work a minimum of eight hours per month of police work, plus attend regular reserve meetings and training sessions. (Ord. 650 § 1, 1995; Ord. 489 § 1, 1983: Ord. 227 § 3 (part), 1963).

2.24.040 Identification card and badge.

The city marshal is authorized to furnish each member of the auxiliary police force with a membership identification card and police badge. The membership identification card is to be carried by such member at all times, and the police badge is to be worn only when the auxiliary policeman is authorized to wear the prescribed uniform. (Ord. 227 § 3 (part), 1963).

2.24.050 Dismissal—Resignation.

Membership of any person in the auxiliary police may be revoked at any time by the city marshal or the director of civil defense upon good cause shown. Auxiliary police may be dismissed without cause with the concurrence of the city council. Any member of the auxiliary police may resign upon notification to the city marshal or the director of civil defense. Upon separation from the organization, all equipment issued to him by the city must be turned in within five days. (Ord. 227 § 3 (part), 1963).

2.24.060 Commanding officer.

The city marshal is the commanding officer of the civilian auxiliary police force. He shall be responsible for establishing a training program, promulgating rules and regulations for conduct of members and prescribing the uniform and supervising their performance of duty. He may appoint such subordinate officers as he deems suitable and necessary. All the rules and regulations must be approved by the local director of civil defense. (Ord. 227 § 4, 1963).

2.24.070 Powers.

Members of the auxiliary police force shall have all those powers vested in them by the city marshal while in the performance of officially authorized duties, but under no circumstances shall an auxiliary policeman exercise any power while not in the performance of duties ordered by the city marshal or by a regular police officer. (Ord. 227 § 5, 1963).

2.24.080 Compensation.

Members of the civilian auxiliary police force serve without compensation but the city council may in its discretion, pay all or part of the cost of furnishing uniforms and equipment when the appropriation therefor has been indicated as an item in the city budget. (Ord. 227 § 6, 1963).

2.24.090 Liability.

The city shall register all regular members of the civilian auxiliary police officers as civil defense workers so that in the event of injury or death in the performance of duty, such auxiliary policeman will be eligible for compensation available for this purpose as established by the State Legislature and administered by the State Department of Civil Defense. Since the civilian auxiliary policemen provide their service to the city on a voluntary basis, the city authorizes supplementing the compensation available, in event of injury or death in the performance of duty, with a group accident insurance policy. (Ord. 227 § 7, 1963).

2.24.100 Volunteer firefighters’ relief and pension benefits allowed for police reserve officers.

The state, by RCW 41.24, provides benefits to volunteer firefighters through the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief and Pension Act, and these benefits have been expanded to include qualifying reserve police officers. "Reserve police officers" shall be defined as "reserve officer" as set forth by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission in RCW 43.101.

The State Board for Volunteer Firefighters administers the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief and Pension Act. (Ord. 733 § 1 (part), 2001).

2.24.110 Participation in volunteer firefighters’ relief and pension plan for police reserve officers.

The city shall allow participation in the volunteer firefighters’ relief and pension plan, administered by the State Board for Volunteer Firefighters, by qualifying reserve police officers under the following conditions:

To count and pay the cost of all credit for service as a reserve officer and to pay pension fees at the option of the member, who must agree to pay his/her portion of the fees, plus interest, at an actuarial rate to be determined by the state board. Any portion of back fees may be assigned by the municipality to be paid by the member. (Ord. 733 § 1 (part), 2001).

2.24.120 Terms.

All other terms and conditions of Chapter 2.44, Volunteer Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act shall apply to the participation by reserve police officers in the volunteer firefighters’ relief and pension plan. (Ord. 733 § 1 (part), 2001).