The Village of West Haverstraw hereby establishes a Village Constabulary,
the members of which shall be authorized to act in the capacity of uniformed
court officers, and shall have the responsibilities generally associated with
such position in and about the Village Court as hereinafter set forth. Village
Constables shall be appointed by the Village Board, but shall work under the
direct supervision of the Village Justice.
Persons holding the position of Village Constable shall have the status
of, and shall be granted and exercise the powers of, a peace officer under
the general laws of the State of New York.
Village Constables shall have those powers and responsibilities consistent,
and generally associated, with a court officer in the State of New York, including
but not necessarily limited to:
A. Attending sessions of the Village Court to maintain order
and decorum in the courtroom;
B. Calming disruptive individuals;
C. Barring entry into secure areas of and about the courtroom;
D. Addressing and attending to disruptive prisoners, litigants
and spectators involved in court proceedings;
E. Escorting, guarding and delivering jurors, witnesses
and other participants of court proceedings to and from the courtroom;
F. Escorting, guarding and delivering the Judge and/or Clerk
to and from the courtroom, as may be required;
G. Delivering materials to sequestered juries;
H. Escorting court clerks with bank deposits to and from
the court offices and courthouse to the bank;
I. Using established search procedures and equipment to
assure that no weapons, contraband or other prohibited items or materials
are brought into the courthouse or courtroom;
J. Carrying, displaying and using a firearm, subject to
any permit, training and certification requirements and qualifications otherwise
imposed by law;
K. Effecting arrests as required and authorized.
No person holding the position of Village Constable shall carry or otherwise
possess a firearm on Village property other than in conformity with state
and federal law, and after having successfully completed such initial training
and instruction, and any required in service of follow-up training and instruction,
required for a peace officer authorized to carry a firearm under the laws
of the State of New York.