(a) Auxiliary Police Unit. There is created within the Police Department an Auxiliary Police Unit, the members of which shall be appointed by the Mayor per R.C. § 737.161. All applicants for such positions must satisfy, or be able to satisfy, such qualifications as the Mayor and Council shall ordain.
(b) Sworn Auxiliary Police Officers. All Auxiliary Police officers must be sworn in by the Mayor.
(c) Period of Service. Auxiliary Police Officers shall serve so long as the Mayor may direct, or until a resignation submitted by any such member is accepted by the Mayor.
(d) Volunteer Status of Auxiliary Police Officers. Auxiliary Police Officers serve as volunteers and are not employees of the Village of Minerva Park. Auxiliary Police Officers do not serve probationary periods and have no statutory right to continued employment. As a result, such officers serve at the Mayor’s pleasure and are terminable at will.
(e) Compensation. Auxiliary Police Officers shall not receive any compensation or benefits for their services, other than reasonable reimbursement of their costs in procuring any necessary uniforms and attendant equipment as may be prescribed by the Mayor and Council.
(f) Scheduled Hours. Auxiliary Police Officers shall serve at such times as are determined to be necessary and scheduled by the Chief of Police. Auxiliary Police Officers shall be required to volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month as scheduled by the Chief of Police. Failure to work the required volunteer hours or failure to appear for scheduled volunteer hours shall be cause for removal.
(g) Command of Unit. The Chief of Police or his or her designee 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 or his or her designee whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, protect life and property and enforce the laws of the State of Ohio and the ordinances of the Village of Minerva Park. Auxiliary officers shall only act in such capacity while on active duty and shall obey the chain of command of the Police Department.
(h) Rules and Regulations. The Chief of Police, under the direction of the Mayor, shall prescribe the rules and regulations for the administration, conduct and control of the Auxiliary Police Unit.
(i) Uniforms. The Chief of Police shall determine what type of uniform or part thereof shall be worn by members of the Auxiliary Police Unit. Auxiliary Police Officers shall be issued one uniform by the Village of Minerva Park, which must be returned at the end of each officer’s service. 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.
(j) Firearms. Auxiliary Police Officers must provide their own duty firearm as outlined in the Police Department Policies and Procedures and must be approved by the Chief of Police.
(Ord. 07-2016, passed 6-27-2016)