(a) In the performance of his duties, the General Manager, his Executive Officer, and each district supervisor, assistant district supervisor, license inspector and animal control officer, shall have the power, authority and immunity of a public officer and employee as set forth in Penal Code Section 836.5 to make arrests without a warrant whenever he has reasonable cause to believe that the person to be arrested has committed a misdemeanor in his presence which is a violation of this article, or of any ordinance of the City of Los Angeles or penal law of this State relating to the care, treatment and impounding of animals. (Amended by Ord. No. 140,252, Eff. 4/16/70.
(b) Badges – Description of. Each such person while performing his respective duties shall wear a metallic badge, of a size and design to be determined as provided in Sec. 52.32 of this Code. (Amended by Ord. No. 133,983, Eff. 4/10/67.)
(c) (Added by Ord. No. 140,252, Eff. 4/16/70.) Animal control officers when acting in the course and scope of their employment shall be and are hereby authorized to carry on their persons or in City vehicles loaded firearms or weapons of a type and caliber approved by the General Manager for such use.
Each animal control officer shall receive initial and recurrent training in the use of any type of firearm or weapon approved for use by the General Manager, in order to establish and assure satisfactory proficiency in the use of such weapons commensurate with the safety and welfare of the general public.