(a) Establishment. The legislative authority of the Village of Wakeman hereby establishes, by ordinance, an auxiliary (reserve) police unit within the police department of the village. (See RC 737.161(A). See also Ord. 2015-O-4. Passed 3-9-15)
(b) Purpose. The primary purpose of the auxiliary (reserve) police unit is to assist the Wakeman Police Department in its goals of the protection of life and property. The secondary purpose of the reserve unit is to train members who are qualified in law enforcement for possible future employment.
(c) Police Powers. An auxiliary (reserve) police officer is a law enforcement officer as defined by Section 2901.01(A)(11)(d) of the Ohio Revised Code. The auxiliary (reserve) police unit shall have full power as certified by the State of Ohio and the Village of Wakeman.
(d) General Rules of the Auxiliary Police Unit (Reserve Unit).
(1) Organization.
A. Volunteer. Auxiliary (reserve) police officers shall be classified as a non-paid volunteer, and accordingly are not entitled to any contractual rights or benefits.
B. Rank. Auxiliary (reserve) police officers shall be subordinate to the Mayor, Chief of Police and ranking command staff.
C. The auxiliary (reserve) police unit shall be limited to a compliment of twenty (20) officers.
(2) Training.
A. In-service Training. Each newly appointed auxiliary (reserve) police officer shall complete 120 hours of supervised in-service training with a full-time Wakeman Police Officer or another officer designated by the Chief of Police. Upon satisfactory completion of in-service training, the auxiliary (reserve) police officer will then become eligible for unsupervised patrol duty.
B. Firearms Training. Training in the department firearms policy shall be given to each reserve officer. All auxiliary (reserve) unit officers shall also receive training in the use of each firearm carried by that officer and must pass a State of Ohio firearms qualification test prior to being eligible to carry such firearm.
C. Training Expenses. The Village may provide training expenses for auxiliary (reserve) officers after six (6) month of service. Total funding may not exceed two thousand dollars ($2000) in a one (1) year period. Every year, individual auxiliary (reserve) officers are eligible to receive two hundred dollars ($200.00) towards any training approved by the Chief.
(3) Administration.
A. The Mayor shall be the executive head of the auxiliary (reserve)police unit, shall make all appointments and removals of auxiliary police officers, subject to any general rules prescribed by the legislative authority by ordinance, and shall prescribe rules for the organization, training, administration, control, and conduct of the auxiliary (reserve)police unit. [See ORC 737.161(A)]
B. Removal. Each auxiliary (reserve) police officer may be removed by the Mayor or upon the recommendation the Chief of Police with consent of the Mayor, with or without cause, at any time, solely at the discretion of the Mayor.
(4) Control.
A. The Village Marshal/Chief of Police shall have exclusive control of the stationing and transferring of all auxiliary (reserve) police officers, under such general rules as the mayor prescribes. [See ORC 737.161(A)]
B. Qualifications. The officers of the auxiliary (reserve) unit will be citizens of the United States and the State of Ohio. Minimum age shall be twenty-one (21) years. All applicants must hold a current and valid Ohio Peace Officer Training Council Basic Police Certificate. All auxiliary (reserve) unit police officers shall be in good physical condition and able to perform all police duties.
C. Uniform.
1. The Wakeman Police auxiliary (reserve) officers shall wear the uniform prescribed by the Chief of Police. The uniform shall be the same as the regular Wakeman Police Department uniform. The uniform shall only be worn only while on duty and working for the Wakeman Police Department, or while going to and from work on the assigned duty day.
2. All uniforms purchased by the Village shall remain the property of the Village, and any equipment purchased by an individual member of the auxiliary (reserve) unit will remain the property of that individual. All uniforms and equipment used by auxiliary (reserve) officers shall be purchased only with the approval of the Chief of Police for uniformity. No unauthorized equipment will be carried or used by auxiliary (reserve) officers. In no case will any badges, patches or emblems, identification cards or other items identifying the individual as a Wakeman Police Officer remain in the possession of a person who is not a member of the Wakeman Police Department.
D. Weapons.
1. No weapons or ammunition therefor are to be carried or used by auxiliary (reserve) unit officers except those approved by the Chief of Police.
2. All auxiliary (reserve) unit officers authorized to carry firearms shall supply their own duty firearm.
E. Minimum Duty Requirements.
1. All officers of the auxiliary (reserve) unit shall be required to work a minimum of two (2) eight (8) hour shifts per month, unless excused by the Chief of Police.
2. An auxiliary (reserve) officer's failure to work a minimum of two (2) eight (8) hour shifts per month without being excused by the Chief of Police will subject that officer to removal from the auxiliary (reserve) police unit by the Mayor.
(5) Conduct. All auxiliary (reserve) police officers shall conduct themselves pursuant to the Standard Operating Procedures established and approved by the Wakeman Police Department.
(Ord. 2020-O-11. Passed 8-10-20.)