With the exception of their badges, which are seven-point stars, in contrast to the shield worn by regular Police Officers, Auxiliary Police officers wear virtually the same uniform as regular officers.[20] Additionally, Auxiliary Police Officers wear the regular NYPD patch on both shoulders with a scroll saying "AUXILIARY" on top.
Auxiliary Police officers in New York City are not permitted to carry a sidearm at any time on duty, even if independently licensed to carry a firearm. In other jurisdictions within New York State, some police departments do allow their Auxiliary Police Officers to carry a firearm.
Auxiliary Police Officers provide patrol presence, observations and reporting of incidents requiring regular police response. Auxiliary Police Officers may be involved in life or death situations like a full police officer but do not have the option of the use of a firearm.
Role of the Auxiliary Police officer
Auxiliary Police officers can:
Perform crowd control.
Perform traffic control and effect street closures at parades, accidents, fires, etc.
Perform traffic control at broken traffic lights, accidents, etc.
Make arrests for crimes committed in their presence or communicated over a police radio.
Give medical aid to anyone as long as they are trained to do so.
Carry a police baton and ASP batons in the performance of their duties (NYS Penal Law 265.20 b.).
Carry and use handcuff restraints in the performance of their duties (NYC Administrative Code 10–147).
Make arrests for crimes not committed in their presence but only if ordered to do so by a regular police officer or a police dispatcher. In 1991, the New York State Court of Appeals determined that Auxiliary Police officers are covered under the "fellow officer rule", and therefore may detain a person based on information from a dispatcher or police officer heard over a police radio or from a police officer in person, and therefore are considered as a law enforcement officer with reliable information when making a report themselves to other law officers.[21]
Auxiliary Police officers cannot:
Respond to any 911 calls involving any type of weapons or other life endangering situation.
Standard Auxiliary Police units
Precinct Patrol: Officers patrol their respective precinct. When performing foot patrol, the area of the precinct that the officer patrols is called a Patrol Area, which are divided into "Foot Posts". RMP and bike patrol are also performed. Officers under age 18 cannot perform patrol.[22]
There was a major controversy over benefits afforded to Auxiliary Police Officers. Under New York law, Auxiliary Police are trained "peace officers", receive a NYS MPTC peace officer training certificate and are listed in the state registry of peace officer, but do not have on or off-duty status except when authorized by the police commissioner. In 2008, the federal government denied death benefits for the families of Auxiliary Police Officers Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo, who were killed in the line of duty, due to their lack of peace officer status when they were killed. After an appeal, the federal government reversed their decision and approved their death benefits.[44]
In January 2018, a former NYPD Auxiliary Police Officer began a lawsuit against the department and the Auxiliary Police Section in particular, for not adequately nor professionally processing her allegations of sexual harassment on two of her supervisors out of the Queens police precinct she worked out of. Her allegations, written into a formal complaint to the Division of Human Rights, said that on the night of August 22, 2017, her Coordinator (Police Officer Andrew Thaler) and one of her Auxiliary Police Supervisors (A/Sergeant Rohnit Singh) texted her following her regular tour of duty that night. They allegedly proceeded to insist, against departmental policy, to ask her to get off of her local bus early and meet them a block back in the direction of their station house. Upon arrival, the former APO claimed that she was molested by Officer Thaler and that her patrol supervisor, Auxiliary Sergeant Singh, stood by in the front of the NYPD vehicle they were in. After noticing that she wasn't interested, Officer Thaler had her dropped back off at the bus stop and returned to their assigned duties. Following a formal complaint to the NYPD regarding the incident, she was removed from the Auxiliary Police and given the reason that she broke departmental policy by entering the vehicle, knowing fully that it was in violation of said policies. As of April 2018, she is still fighting the department and the Auxiliary Police Section.[45]
Awards and decorations
Medal of Honor
(Solid green bar speckled tiny gold stars) is awarded for:
Individual acts of extraordinary bravery intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent and personal danger to life. Specifically, the Department Medal of Honor is awarded for acts of gallantry and valor performed with knowledge of the risk involved, above and beyond the call of duty. The Medal of Honor is intended only for regular Police Officers. It was awarded posthumously to Marshalik and Peakaro due to the extraordinary circumstances of their line of duty deaths. The Award of Valor is normally the highest decoration for bravery given to Auxiliary Police Officers.
American Flag Breast Bar
May be worn by all Auxiliary Police Officers in the Auxiliary Unit
World Trade Center Breast Bar
May be worn by all members who were in the Auxiliary Police on 9/11/2001.
Award of Valor
May be worn by all members who have received the Award of Valor.
Award of Commendation
May be worn by all Auxiliary officers who have received the Award of Commendation.
Award of Merit
May be worn by all members who have received the Award of Merit.
Unit Citation
May be worn by all members of the unit in the year citation was earned.
Community Service Award (3000 Hours)
May be worn by all members who have 3000 hours of service in the Auxiliary Police.
500 Hours Award
May be worn by all members who have 500 hours of service in the Auxiliary Police.
Auxiliary Police 50th Anniversary
May be worn by all members who were in the Auxiliary Police in 2000.
↑"Auxiliary Police Overview Page 1"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
↑"Auxiliary Police Overview Page 3"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-08-12.
↑"8,000 Join Emergency Police: Commissioner Hopes to Have 25,000 Men Ready Soon for Any Extraordinary Call". New York Times. 27 April 1916. p.8. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
↑"Limit Home Guard to 22,000 Members: Enlistment in Defense League Makes Rapid Progress and Quota Is Nearly Full". The New York Times. New York Times. 6 July 1916. p.9. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
↑"State Forces Ready Today: Mobilization of Land and Naval Units Starts at Once. GUARDS DOUBLED AT FORTS Police Posted on Bridges and Home Defense League Ordered to Prepare for Duty". New York Times. 4 Feb 1917. p.1.
↑"League Gives Way to Police Reserve: Home Defense Officers Agree to Plan Proposed by Commissioner Enright". New York Times. 20 February 1918. p.7. Retrieved 5 November 2014.