In accordance with the authority granted to this city by section 341.012, Local Government Code, V.T.C.A., there is hereby established a separate police unit of said department in carrying out the mission of the department. Such police unit members shall be referred to as peace officers and shall be voluntary and non-salaried.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1301)
For the purposes of this division, the police unit shall be a limited group of peace officers who are qualified by either their vocational training or service in another department. Such peace officers shall have at least the same number of training hours for basic certification required of the full paid uniformed officers in the department or the peace officers shall earn such hours within a time frame as established by the chief of police for certification as provided in section 9.04.067 hereof.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1302)
The members of the voluntary force of peace officers shall be under the authority, control, and command of the chief of police, subject to the supervision of the city manager and the approval of the councilors, and subject to such rules, regulations, and orders as may be promulgated from time to time by the chief of police in accordance with the authority vested in the chief of police by ordinances of the city. The chief of police may change such rules, regulations, and orders from time to time, and he may command members of the police unit to obey the instructions of regular police officers in carrying out their orders.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1303)
Application for membership in the police unit shall be filed with the chief of police of the city. Such application shall be on a form prescribed by the chief of police and approved by the city manager and shall state the name and residence of the applicant. The applicant must furnish satisfactory proof of a good character, temperate habits, and physical ability to perform the duties of the position which he seeks, and must furnish three (3) references and attach letters of recommendation from local citizens.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1304)
Every person who is selected to take the training and qualify as a member of said police unit of this city shall subscribe to an oath that in performing the duties sought in such application he will observe and obey the United States Constitution, the state constitution, and the statutes, laws, and ordinances of the state and the city, and that he will carry out the duties of a peace officer to the best of his ability.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1305)
A list of eligible applicants is to be compiled by the chief of police, which shall include a complete set of fingerprints of each applicant, which fingerprints will be checked by the identification bureau to ascertain any criminal record of each person, and such list shall be maintained by the chief of police on a continuous basis.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1306)
Each applicant shall receive training, provided at the expense of the city, in accordance with the requirements of V.T.C.A., Occupations Code, chapter 1701, Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, and each applicant shall apply for certification by said council [commission] as a peace officer. An applicant may request that a council [commission] which was granted while the applicant was a member of another police department be transferred to him by the commission as a peace officer at the city police department. The training requirements shall have been satisfied when the applicant is either certified or recertified by the commission. If qualified, the applicant may apply for a basic certification or a higher classification, but the applicant must be certified as provided above prior to performing any duties as a peace officer for the city.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1307)
After being qualified as provided above, the officers of said unit shall serve as peace officers during the discharge of actual duties of the city, subject at all times to the direction, control, and supervision of the chief of police of the city.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1308)
Said unit shall be composed of personnel who have volunteered to serve without pay and whose application for membership has been accepted by the chief of police, and who have complied with all rules, regulations, and orders provided for the conduct and control of the members thereof. This unit shall not exceed in number more than ten (10) officers, which may expand from time to time with the authority of the chief of police at the approval of the city council.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1309)
No person appointed as a peace officer may carry a weapon or otherwise act as a peace officer until he has been duly approved by the city council. After approval, he may carry a weapon only when authorized by the chief of police, and when discharging official duties as a duly constituted peace officer.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1310)
Members of said unit serve at the discretion of the chief of police and may be called into service at any time the chief of police considers it necessary to have the additional officers to preserve the peace and enforce the law.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1311)
The members of said unit shall serve without compensation, but the chief of police may provide uniforms and equipment for such peace officers from existing supplies or by purchase in the department. Special identification items as necessary, including shoulder patches, badges, and other items, may be provided under the direction of the chief of police.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1312)
A peace officer who sustains injury in the course of performing official duties for the city will receive hospital and medical assistance in the same manner as provided by the governing body for a full-time police officer, and a peace officer shall be eligible for death benefits as set out in chapter 86, Acts of the 60th Legislature, Regular Session, 1967, as amended, V.T.C.A., Local Government Code, section 142.003; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or permit a member of the peace officers’ unit to become eligible for participation in any pension fund pursuant to state statutes to which regular police officers of the city may become a member by payroll deduction or otherwise.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1313)
All commissions for membership in said unit shall be perpetual in nature, subject to termination as provided in this article.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1314)
Officers in said unit shall act only in a supplementary capacity to the regular police force, and shall in no case assume full-time duties of regular police officers without first complying with all requirements of regular police officers.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1315)
Any person who is appointed as a peace officer for the city may be terminated by the chief of police at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the chief of police, and any peace officer may resign from the unit at any time, provided he notifies the chief of police in writing of his resignation.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1316)
The creation of the reserve peace officers unit shall not limit the power of the mayor to summons into service a special police force to enforce the laws of this city or to avert danger or protect life or property in the case of riot or outbreak or calamity or public disturbance, or when he has reason to fear any serious violation of law or order or any other danger to the city or the inhabitants thereof, as permitted by section 341.011, Local Government Code, V.T.C.A.
(1996 Code, sec. 8.1317)