Newport News Police Department - Operational Manual OPS-240 - AUXILIARY POLICE OFFICERS Amends/Supersedes: OPS-240 (04/11/2016) Date of Issue: 02/27/2017 I. GENERAL A. The Newport News Police Department will equip and maintain an Auxiliary Police Officer Unit according to the provisions of City Code, Chapter 32, Article I, Section 32-1, concurrent with 15.2-1731 of the Code of Virginia. [1.2.1; 16.3.1] B. Powers, Authority and Duty Requirements [16.3.1] 1. Auxiliary police officers serving the City of Newport News will generally perform the same duties as full-time, paid police officers and possess equivalent authority when onduty under the conditions set forth in 15.2-1731 of the Code of Virginia. 2. In order to acquire the legal authority to carry and use weapons in the performance of their duties, every auxiliary police officer is required to achieve state qualification status and have successfully completed a Virginia DCJS certified police training academy. Complete and appropriate instruction on applicable policies on firearms and use of force must occur prior to carrying a firearm during the course of their duties. [1.2.2; 1.3.10; 1.3.12; 33.4.1] 3. Auxiliary police officers may be called into service according to 15.2-1734 of the Code of Virginia for the following reasons: a. In times of public emergency; b. When there is an insufficient number of regular police officers to preserve the peace, safety and good order of the community; c. At any time for the purpose of training; d. To aid and assist regular officers in the performance of their duties. 4. Auxiliary police officers will be expected to serve a minimum number of 24 hours per fiscal quarter. 5. Auxiliary police officers will be allowed the flexibility to work partial shifts. 6. Auxiliary police officers are granted their arrest powers and authority as outlined in Section I. B, above. Accordingly, auxiliary police officers shall not: a. Exercise their powers and authority as a Newport News Auxiliary Police Officer when off-duty. b. Engage in secondary employment that involves the use of their sworn police powers. [22.3.3] c. Carry a concealed weapon (unless the auxiliary police officer possesses a valid Virginia concealed weapons permit issued by the appropriate Circuit Court). OPS-240-1 of 5 02/27/2017
1) This does not apply to those auxiliary officers who qualify for concealed weapon status as retired sworn law enforcement officers as set out in Virginia Code 18.2-308.016 and United States Code, Chapter 44, Title 18 926C. 2) The auxiliary police officer shall not carry his Department issued firearm when off-duty. II. PROCEDURES A. Application for Membership [16.3.2] 1. Persons desiring to join as auxiliary police officers must meet the same qualifications as those seeking full-time, paid police officer positions. 2. The application process will be conducted by the Support Services Division according to guidelines governing employment of full-time, paid police officers. B. Training [16.3.3] 1. Field training of auxiliary police officers will be conducted in the manner applied to new full-time, paid police officers under the following guidelines: a. Each auxiliary police officer will be assigned to a Field Training Officer (F.T.O.) during his field training. b. A minimum of 480 hours on-duty service must be completed with a nonprobationary full-time F.T.O. or senior officer. If an F.T.O. is unavailable, the auxiliary police officer will be assigned with a senior officer. The senior officer will document performance and confer with an F.T.O. who may elect to sign off items properly covered by the senior officer. Senior officers are not authorized to sign off items in the training manuals. c. F.T.O.s or senior officers are required to complete a Daily Observation Report (D.O.R.) (NNPD Form #15) on auxiliary police officers who have not been released to independent patrol. The F.T.O./senior officer will write the number of hours the auxiliary police officer worked on the top right side of the first page of the D.O.R. d. Auxiliary police officers who have been released to independent patrol will document their activities and hours worked on the Auxiliary Daily Observation Report (NNPD Form #15A). The auxiliary police officer will keep one copy of the form for his records and turn one copy into his supervisor at the end of each shift. The supervisor will review the form, maintain a copy for his files and forward copies of the form to his Bureau/Precinct/Division Commander and the Training Academy Director. e. Auxiliary police officer trainees will maintain possession of their training manuals, surrendering them to their assigned F.T.O. or senior officer upon returning for duty. f. Upon completion of field training, the Professional Standards Division Commander will make appropriate recommendations for release to independent patrol. OPS-240-2 of 5 02/27/2017
2. Auxiliary police officers must meet the annual in-service and firearms training and physical examination requirements, equivalent to those of full-time, paid police officers. [1.3.11(a,b); 16.3.5; 16.3.6; 22.3.1, 33.5.1] C. Assignment and Supervision 1. The Auxiliary Police Officer Unit will fall under the direct supervision of the Training Section. 2. The Training Academy Director, or his designee, is responsible for all supervision of the auxiliary police officers with the exception noted in Section II. C. 3, and II.D.4, below. This supervision includes evaluation oversight, policy compliance, budget administration, maintenance of accreditation standards, coordination of monthly meetings and all other administrative duties. Any specific concerns or issues an Auxiliary Officer may have about the administration of the Auxiliary program shall be addressed to the Training Academy Director. 3. Precinct supervisors are responsible for the day to day street level supervision of auxiliary police officers working on their watches. They are also responsible for documenting performance, and hours worked. This information will be forwarded to the Training Academy Director as specified in this policy. 4. Auxiliary police officers must be evaluated annually under the guidelines used to assess full-time, paid police officers. [35.1.2] a. Evaluations of auxiliary police officers shall be completed annually by April 30 th. The evaluation will be completed by the supervisor under whom the officer spent the majority of his duty time, and may include the input of other supervisors who also provided oversight of the officer. b. Auxiliary police officers are to be evaluated in areas where they have had sufficient opportunity to demonstrate performance, as they fall within the parameters of the City's evaluation instrument. c. The Training Academy Director will monitor the progress of auxiliary police officers in the field training program and review their Training Manuals at the time of evaluation. In addition, the Training Academy Director will ensure the auxiliary police officer is meeting the minimum hours served requirement. 5. Auxiliary police officers must complete the field training program within 48 months from their graduation from the Auxiliary Police Academy or regular Law Enforcement Academy. This requirement can only be waived by the Chief of Police for due cause. 6. Auxiliary police officers are authorized to work in any of the three patrol precincts on any shift they choose. Auxiliary police officers are encouraged to provide as much notice as possible to their respective precinct Watch Commander concerning their intent to work. a. Auxiliary police officers desiring to work within any division other than Patrol must submit their request in writing and have it approved by the Training Academy Director and the Assistant Chief of the Support Bureau. At minimum, OPS-240-3 of 5 02/27/2017
auxiliary police officers making a request of this nature must have completed all required field training. b. Requests by other Department units or divisions for an auxiliary police officer will be forwarded to the Assistant Chief of the Support Bureau. D. Suspension or Termination from the Program [52.2.7] 1. Auxiliary police officers must conform to the policies and procedures of the Department and the City and may be suspended or terminated from the program for any of the following reasons: a. Violations of Policy and Procedure within the three groups of misconduct as outlined in Section 1000 of the City Personnel Administrative Manual, to include willful or intentional acts, acts that are the result of negligence or carelessness, and/or show a deliberate disregard of any City or Police Department policy; b. Failure to meet the service requirement without first obtaining a waiver from the Chief of Police or his designee. 2. Auxiliary police officers may be relieved of their duties for failure to maintain standards required of regular officers, (in-service training, firearm qualifications, etc.). 3. The Professional Standards Division Commander may grant an extension of time to meet training requirements based on good cause or reason. 4. Recommendations for disciplinary action against auxiliary police officers will be reviewed by the commander under whose command the auxiliary officer was working at the time of the incident, and will be handled as with a regular officer in accordance with ADM-210 Standards of Conduct/Disciplinary Action. [26.1.5] 5. Auxiliary police officers are not eligible for participation in the grievance procedure but may request a hearing before the Chief of Police for disciplinary action resulting in suspension or termination. [26.1.6] 6. Auxiliary police officers may serve in the program until reaching their 63 rd birthday. [22.2.2(a)] F. Uniforms and Equipment 1. Auxiliary police officers will wear the same uniform and equipment as issued to fulltime, paid police officers except for the badge that will display the word Auxiliary rather than Officer. [16.3.4] 2. Auxiliary police officers will be issued clothing and equipment as outlined in ADM- 520 (Issuance and Wearing of Uniforms and Equipment) except that; [22.2.5] a. Two long sleeve shirts will be issued instead of four b. Two short sleeve shirts will be issued instead of four c. Two pairs of pants will be issued instead of four d. Based on the specific assignment of the individual auxiliary officer, a training OPS-240-4 of 5 02/27/2017
uniform, or other uniform specific to a unit or division, may be issued in lieu of the regular police uniform. 3. Uniforms will only be worn by auxiliary police officers during the following circumstances: a. When on active duty as an auxiliary police officer; b. While attending Department approved training, when required; c. While attending Department approved activities (such as court); d. While representing the Department at meetings/events approved by the Police Department; e. When traveling to or from the aforementioned activities or duties. G. Bonding and Liability Protection Coverage [16.3.7, 22.2.2(d)] Auxiliary police officers are bonded and provided with public liability protection equal to that provided to full-time, paid police officers. Richard W. Myers Chief of Police OPS-240-5 of 5 02/27/2017