135.33 AUXILIARY POLICE.

   (a)   Appointment of Members. The Mayor is hereby authorized to commission a number of men and women not to exceed a total of forty subject to the discretion of the Mayor, as is necessary to supplement the regular police force, which group shall be known as “Auxiliary Police Unit.”
(Ord. 2005-059. Passed 4-5-05.)

   (b)   Term of Service. Auxiliary police officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor, or until a resignation submitted by a member is accepted by the Mayor.

   (c)   Qualification of Members. The members of the auxiliary police unit may not be under the age of twenty-one years at the time of their appointment, and shall meet such other requirements as provided by rules and regulations provided for in subsection (e) hereof.

   (d)   Control of Unit. The Mayor/Director of Public Safety shall be the executive officer of the auxiliary police unit. The Chief of Police shall be the commanding officer and shall have control of the assignment, training, stationing and direction of work. The auxiliary police unit shall have only such police powers and shall perform only such police duties assigned by the Chief of Police in writing, such as writing certain parking tickets within the City, and shall act only when in prescribed uniform or portion of uniform. The Mayor/Director of Public Safety shall prescribe the time and place such uniforms or portions thereof shall be worn. Such auxiliary members shall obey the chain of command of the Division of Police and shall take official police orders from all regular appointed members thereof.

   (e)   Rules and Regulations. The Mayor/Director of Public Safety shall prescribe the rules and regulations for the organization, administration, conduct and control of the auxiliary police unit.

   (f)   Uniform. The Mayor/Director of Public Safety is authorized to prescribe by rules and regulations the type of uniform or part thereof which shall be worn by members of the auxiliary police unit. All issued uniforms and equipment will remain the property of the City of Bedford Heights and will be returned to the City of Bedford Heights upon termination of employment. If issued uniforms or equipment are damaged within the line of duty, the City of Bedford Heights will repair or replace the damaged article. If issued uniforms or equipment are damaged outside the course of duty, it will be the responsibility of the auxiliary police officer to repair or replace the article.

   (g)   Compensation.

      (1)   Auxiliary police officers shall serve as part-time employees and be compensated for their services at the rate of nine dollars and fifty cents ($9.50) per hour, except as otherwise authorized by Council for services in the municipal parks and for court appearances.

      (2)   Auxiliary police officers shall not be entitled to any part-time employee benefits or any relief or pension funds of the City or the State of Ohio, or any other similar benefit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any auxiliary police officer shall be entitled to any and all relief under Workers’ Compensation.

   (h)   Use of Uniform. No auxiliary police officer shall appear in public in uniform unless scheduled or called to duty by the Police Chief or officer in charge of the police department.

   (i)   Duty Assignments. During periods of emergency call-out auxiliary police officers shall assist members of the police department by performing whatever functions are necessary to protect life and property as may be assigned by the police department shift officer. Auxiliary police officers may work other non-emergency jobs only as approved and scheduled through the police department. Auxiliary police officers shall not work in place of regular officers of the City of Bedford Heights police department in non-emergency situations.

   (j)   Auxiliary Liaison Officer. The Chief of Police may appoint a member of the police division to be in charge of the auxiliary unit. This member of the police department will be known as the Auxiliary Liaison Officer.

   (k)   Non-liability. This section is declared by Council as an exercise by the City of its police powers for the protection of the public peace, health, property, safety and general welfare. Neither the City, nor any agent or representative of the City, an officer appointed under the provisions of this section, or any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or the receiver, trustee or any agent thereof, who in good faith executes any executive order, rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be liable for injury or damage sustained to persons or property as the direct proximate result of such action. In addition to any other responsibilities or immunities, the members of the auxiliary police unit shall bear the same responsibilities and the same immunities as any other regularly employed member of the Division of Police, except as herein provided.
(Ord. 2004-199. Passed 12-21-04.)