(a) Appointment of Members. The Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to commission up to fifteen (15) persons as is necessary to supplement and support the regular police force, to serve as auxiliary police officers. These auxiliary officers shall be known as the “Auxiliary Police Unit”.
(b) Term of Service. Auxiliary police officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Director of Public Safety, or until such time as a resignation is submitted by the auxiliary officer and accepted by the Director of Public Safety.
(c) Qualification of Members. The members of the Auxiliary Police Unit must be at least 21 years of age at the time of their appointment and shall meet such other requirements as provided by the rules and regulations set forth in subsection e hereof.
(d) Control of Unit. The Chief of Police shall be the commanding officer and shall have control over the assignment, training, stationing and direction of all members of the Auxiliary Police Unit. The Auxiliary Police Unit shall have all police powers, but shall perform only such police duties as are assigned to them by the Chief of Police. Auxiliary officers shall only act in such capacity while in prescribed uniform or a portion of such uniform. The Chief of Police shall prescribe the time and place such uniforms or portions thereof shall be worn. Auxiliary members shall obey the chain of command of the Police Department and take official police orders from all regular appointed members thereof.
(e) Rules and Regulations. The Chief of Police, under the direction of the 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 Chief of Police is authorized by the prescribed rules and regulations, to determine what type of uniform or part thereof shall be worn by members of the Auxiliary Police Unit.
(g) Compensation.
(1) All services performed by auxiliary police officers for the City of Circleville shall be on a voluntary basis.
(2) Auxiliary police officers shall be paid one dollar ($1.00) annually on the anniversary date of their commission.
(3) Auxiliary police officers may be authorized to work special duty assignments paid by an entity other than the City of Circleville, such as school events, church events, Pumpkin Show details, etc., at the discretion of the Chief of Police.
(4) Auxiliary police officers are not entitled to any part-time benefits or any relief or pension funds of the City or the State of Ohio, or any other similar benefits. Notwithstanding the foregoing, auxiliary police officers shall be entitled to any and all relief under Ohio Workers’ Compensation.
(h) Use of Uniform. No auxiliary police officer shall appear in public in uniform unless scheduled or called to duty by the Chief of Police 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 in charge. Auxiliary police officers may work other non-emergency jobs only as approved and scheduled to the Police Department. Auxiliary officers shall not work in place of regular officers of the City of Circleville to maintain minimum staffing levels.
(j) Auxiliary Liaison Officer. The Chief of Police may appoint a member of the Police Department to be in charge of the Auxiliary Police Unit. The member of the Police Department serving in this capacity shall 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 damages 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 Police Department, except as herein provided. (Ord. 08-73-04. Passed 8-3-04.)