The Auxiliary Police shall be appointed, serve and be dismissed in accordance with the same "General Orders" as the Police Department and with the following regulations.
(a) Membership. The Mayor shall appoint such volunteer members as the Mayor deems necessary as selected from a list of applicants referred or submitted to the Mayor by interested parties or from any source the Mayor may have.
(b) Eligibility.
(1) All persons of good character and reputation without regard to sex, race, creed or national original, over eighteen years of age shall be eligible for membership in the Auxiliary Police.
(2) No person shall become a member if already serving in a fire department or first-responder capacity, in any capacity in any other law enforcement program (except as a "Special Police Officer"), or in any elected or appointed political position or public office.
(3) Any person appointed shall be physically able to pass a doctor's examination as required of the regular Police Department as a condition of being appointed. In addition, an applicant shall be required to satisfy the same mental and physical requirements as normally required for members of the regular Police Department.
(c) Appointment; Term.
(1) Any person first appointed to the membership shall serve for a period of six months on probation and may be removed at any time during that period by the Mayor.
(2) At the conclusion of the six month probationary period, if satisfied that the member's interest in the Auxiliary Police and performance of duties assigned are in the best interests of the Municipality, the Mayor may, with the recommendation of the Chief, appoint the member as a regular member of the Auxiliary.
(3) A regular member may be dismissed for cause after a hearing as provided herein.
(d) Compensation. All members of the Auxiliary Police shall be compensated for all time worked in accordance with the wage rates currently approved by Council. This provision shall not prevent an individual who is also serving as a "Special Police Officer" from being compensated in that capacity.
(e) Meetings; Attendance.
(1) Regularly scheduled meetings shall be held by all members of the Auxiliary Police at the time and place determined by the Chief. Time in attendance shall be compensated.
(2) A member who is absent from three consecutive meetings without good cause, or from six meetings in one calendar year regardless of the reason, shall be dismissed from the Auxiliary.
(f) Uniforms - Appearance.
(1) Members of the Auxiliary Police while on duty shall present an appearance comparable to the regular police officers (meetings exempted unless otherwise specified) in compliance with Police Department General Orders.
(2) There shall be no unauthorized use of any auxiliary equipment, badge, uniform or identification card. Any such use is grounds for immediate dismissal.
(g) Officers; Term; Vacancy.
(1) Officers of the Auxiliary Police shall be selected from among those members, in good standing, who have been members for at least one year. The Mayor shall appoint the officers from a list proposed by the Chief.
(2) The officers shall be a captain, a lieutenant and two sergeants, As appropriate.
(3) Officer's responsibilities and duties shall be in compliance with Police Department General Orders.
(h) Dismissal; Procedure.
(1) When the Mayor has good reason to believe a regular member of the Auxiliary Police has been guilty of incompetence, inefficiency, dishonesty, drunkenness, immoral conduct, insubordination, discourteous treatment of the public, neglect of duty or of a violation of these regulations or Police Department regulations, the Mayor may order the removal of the member from the Auxiliary Police.
(2) Removal from the Auxiliary Police may be appealed to the legislative authority of the Village within five days from the date of the Mayor's action.
(3) An appeal shall be heard at the next regular meeting of Council occurring not less than five days after notice is served upon the Mayor by the member. The member may appear at such hearing with or without counsel, examine all witnesses and answer all charges.
(4) At the conclusion of the hearing, Council may reinstate the member if the Council finds from the evidence that the Mayor's removal was an abuse of discretion; otherwise, the removal shall be sustained.
(Ord. 2021-58. Passed 1-18-22.)