(a) Establishment. There is hereby created within the Police Department a Volunteers in Police Service Unit, the members of which shall be volunteers appointed by the Director of Public Safety. This program is intended to comply with the requirements of the USA Freedom Corps.
(b) Term of Service. A member shall serve so long as the Director of Public Safety may direct, or until a resignation submitted by a member is accepted by the Director.
(c) Qualification of Members. The members of the Volunteers in Police Service Unit shall be residents of the City or be employed within the City, and may not be under the age of twenty-one years at the time of their appointment, and be subject to such other requirements as provided by the rules and regulations provided in subsection (e) hereof; however, the residency and employment requirements may be waived by the Director of Public Safety upon written application of the commanding officer of the Volunteers in Police Service Unit.
(d) Control of Unit. The Chief of Police shall be the commanding officer of the Volunteers in Police Service Unit and shall have control of the assignment, training, stationing and the direction of work of such unit. The Volunteers in Police Service Unit shall not have police powers, shall only perform non-intervention functions such as traffic and pedestrian control, special event assistance, and disaster assistance as assigned by the Chief, and shall act only when in the prescribed uniform.
(e) Rules and Regulations. The Director of Public Safety shall prescribe the rules and regulations for the organization, administration, conduct and control of the Volunteers in Police Service Unit.
(f) Uniform. The Director of Public Safety is authorized to prescribe, by the rules and regulations, the type of uniform which shall be worn by members of the Volunteers in Police Service Unit. No member shall be authorized to carry any firearm or weapon.
(g) Service is Voluntary. All services performed by volunteers in police service shall be on a voluntary basis, without compensation, and within the City.
(h) Nonliability. This section is declared by Council as an exercise by the City of its police powers for the protection of public peace, health, property, safety and general welfare and neither the City nor its agent or representative, a volunteer appointed under the provisions of this section or any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or the receiver or trustee or any other agent thereof who in good faith executes any executive order, rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be liable for injury or damage sustained to person or property as the direct or proximate result of such action.
(Ord. 2006-139. Passed 6-19-06.)