Whereas the city has continued to grow, the need for a non-paid
professional police force to augment the active force in times of
active law enforcement in police activity, cases of emergencies or
on special occasions is a necessity.
(Ordinance 2012-04-02-007 adopted 4/2/12)
(a)
The
non-paid police force, an auxiliary police force, shall be composed
of licensed peace officers from the state who hold at least a basic
peace officer’s license. Application for the force shall be
processed in duplicate manner as that of the regular police force.
It shall be composed of not more than ten members. The non-paid police
force shall be an entity of the city police department but shall have
a supervisory officer, who is also a non-paid member of the force,
as the liaison between the regular force and the non-paid force. The
non-paid force shall be headed by the chief of police. Members of
the non-paid police force must adhere to the principles, policies,
and beliefs of the paid force with no compensation for their duties.
(b)
The
members of the non-paid police force shall be under the authority,
control, and command of the chief of police of the city, subject to
all the provisions of ordinances of the city. Members of the non-paid
police force shall be appointed by application process and are considered
on probation for a period of one year from the commission date.
(Ordinance 2012-04-02-007 adopted 4/2/12)
(a)
Each
non-paid officer is to be issued a departmental identification card
which shows he or she as a member of the police force. The card is
to be signed by the chief of police and must be carried by each member
of the non-paid force at all times. Under Vernon’s Civil Statutes,
the non-paid officer commissioned as a full peace officer is vested
with all the rights and privileges that accompany “peace officer”
status in the state. Upon termination or separation from the department,
the non-paid officer is to surrender his or her identification card
and badge of office. There is no expectation of tenure. A non-paid
police officer may be terminated from duty for violation of any of
the policies and procedures of the police department or city, and/or
for failure to log the minimum hours of time required of a non-paid
police officer. A member of the non-paid police force may resign at
any time he or she wishes; however, it shall be his or her duty to
notify the chief of police in writing as stated by city policy.
(b)
In
addition to penalties provided by law, any violation of law under
color of performance of his or her duties as a member of the non-paid
police force and any breach of rules and regulations established by
the chief of police shall subject any members of the non-paid police
force to summary expulsion. Such expulsion will be made knowledge
to the state commission on law enforcement officer standards and education.
(Ordinance 2012-04-02-007 adopted 4/2/12)
The duties of the non-paid police force, subject at all times
to the direction and discretion of the chief of police, shall be to
assist the regular force of the police department of the city in the
enforcement of law and the maintenance of peace and order. The chief
of police may, by order, establish rules and regulations to govern
the non-paid force, to affix specific duties of its members and to
provide for the maintenance of discipline within the non-paid police
force. He may change such orders from time to time, and may command
members of the police non-paid force to obey the orders of the regular
police force when the chief of police is not present. At all times,
the non-paid officers shall take direction from the regular police
force when working alongside in a police-related incident. The chief
may prescribe other duties than those mentioned herein to be performed
by the police non-paid force, not inconsistent with the provisions
hereof.
(Ordinance 2012-04-02-007 adopted 4/2/12)
Each non-paid member of the city police force shall be required
to log in a minimum of 16 (sixteen) clock hours a month to remain
a member of the department. Each member is to log their hours worked
and such log shall become a legal document of the city police department.
Each non-paid police force member is to qualify yearly with his or
her handgun as prescribed by the state commission on law enforcement
officer standards and education, as well as, at their own expense,
complete forty (40) clock hours of police in-service training (to
include mandatory training) every two year TCLEOSE cycles. The city
police department, if available, will assist with non-paid officer
uniforms, but the bulk of the expense is to be borne by the non-paid
officer. No firearms, duty ammunition, or utility gear is to be furnished
by the city.
(Ordinance 2012-04-02-007 adopted 4/2/12)
A list of eligible members to the non-paid police force shall
be compiled from those who make a written application for the position.
TCLEOSE (state commission on law enforcement officer standards and
education) guidelines shall be followed in the appointment. Each step
of required documentation must be completed for each member of the
non-paid police force. Each non-paid police officer is an ambassador
of the city and shall abide in such manner at all times. Each member
shall be of good character, have temperate personal habits, and be
physically capable of performing the duties of a police officer. All
applicants shall be approved by the chief of police.
(Ordinance 2012-04-02-007 adopted 4/2/12)
