In case of fire, it shall be the duty of the Mayor and Chief of Police to attend and take charge of the Police Department. In case of the removal of exposed property, they shall detail a sufficient number of responsible citizens who are not members of the Fire Department, who shall constitute an auxiliary police force, whose duty it shall be, under the direction of the officers in charge, to guard and protect all property exposed and to arrest and detain all suspicious and disorderly persons and to do everything that may be done lawfully to protect the rights of citizens and preserve public peace and private property.
(2003 Code, § 8-203)