(a) There is hereby created an auxiliary/reserve unit within the Police Department to be composed of not more than fifteen persons.
(b) The Director of Public Safety shall be the executive head of the auxiliary/reserve unit and shall make all appointments and removals including temporary removals therefrom.
(c) No person shall be appointed to the auxiliary/reserve unit who shall not have reached the age of twenty-one years.
(d) The Chief of Police shall be the commanding officer of the auxiliary/reserve unit and shall have the exclusive control of assigning, training and stationing members thereof. Members of the auxiliary/reserve unit shall have full police powers when acting within the scope of their assigned duties. They shall be subject to all rules and regulations of the Police Department that are applicable to regular officers, unless by their nature they are clearly inapplicable, shall be subject to the chain of command within the Police Department and shall be subject to the orders of any regular police officer.
(e) The Director of Public Safety shall have the authority to prescribe additional rules and regulations for the operation of the auxiliary/reserve unit not inconsistent with this chapter as he shall from time to time deem necessary. Before prescribing such rules and regulations, the Director of Public Safety shall consult with the Chief of Police thereon.
(f) All services performed by the auxiliary/reserve unit shall be on a voluntary basis and no compensation shall be paid to any member thereof except as provided in subsection (g) hereof.
(g) In the event of an emergency of any nature where there are not sufficient regular police officers available, the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to employ members of the auxiliary/reserve unit on a compensated basis in such numbers as he shall deem necessary to preserve the peace and order within this City. Auxiliary officers employed under this section shall be paid the Patrol Officers starting hourly rate then in effect, but shall receive no fringe benefits.
(h) The Director of Public Safety and the Auditor of the City are hereby authorized and directed to enter into and maintain in full force and effect a contract with the Ohio Industrial Commission, pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4123.03, providing for Workers’ Compensation coverage for all members of the auxiliary/reserve unit.
(i) Council shall also provide at City expense professional liability insurance for members of the auxiliary/reserve unit.
(Ord. 08-24. Passed 7-24-08.)