The chief of police or any member of the police department shall have authority to call upon any person to assist him in making an arrest, capturing or retaining in custody any person. Any person, when so requested, who shall refuse or fail, to the best of his ability, to render such aid as required shall be guilty of an offense, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code. (1960 Code, Sec. 1-806; amd. 1977 Code)