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HISTORY OF THE NEW YORK CITY

AUXILIARY POLICE PROGRAM

Auxiliary Forces Section

120-55 Queens Blvd.
Kew Gardens, NY 1 1424
Phone: 7 18-7 93 - 2727

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 HISTORY OF THE AUXILIARY POLICE PROGRAM

Modern police professionals are becoming increasingly more and more

aware of th~ importance of their involvement with the citizens of the com-
munity they serve. In turn, citizens are also more aware of their need for
involvement with the police.

One sign of this mutual interdependence is the development of Auxiliary

Police Programs throughout the country ~ Such programs differ from community
to community. For example: some citizen volunteers are paid for their duty,
most are not; some are ca l led reserves, others auxiliaries. Many are
closely related to civil defense and natural disaster functions (civil pre-
paredness is the term currently use to describe both). Whatever the organi-
zational differences, what they have in common is a concern for the well be-
ing of their community and a positive response to that goal.

The New York City Auxiliary Police Program is the largest of these
groups in the united states. C~rrently it consists of approximately 4,350
uniformed men and women. Auxiliaries represent a cross section of the eth-
n i c and racial composition of each of the City's 75 patrol precincts. They
contribute an average of 100,000 hours of service per month. The duty they
perform is voluntary, and they receive no payment for this service. The
auxiliary officer does receive an annual uniform allowance of $115.00 for
performing a minimum of 126 hours of duty during the subject year.

Auxiliary pol i ce officers are neither police officers or peace officers.

They do not carry firearms, nor do they have the power of arrest beyond that
of the regular citizen. Armed with a walkie-talkie and a n i ghtstick, they
are trained to observe and report.

LEGAL BEGINNINGS

Because of the threat of nuclear attack in 1950, the President of the

Un i ted States proclaimed the ex i stence of a national emergency and called
upon the l ocal governments to meet the threat to the national secur i t y .
Th is proc lamatio n has not been rescinded or revoked.

The 81st Congress passed Pub l ic La w #920 e n titled "The Civil Defense Act
o f 1950" which author i zed a Federal Civil Defense Program. It was the
s t a ted i ntent of this l aw t o provide a ~lan for the protection of l i fe and
p roperty i n the Un i ted s tates from attac k and t hat t he responsibi lity for
civi l De fense be vest ed i n t h e Sta tes and t he ir po liti c a l subd ivisio ns .

The New York State Leg is la tu r e f ol l owe d t he re co ~~ e nd at i ons o f the Fed -

era l Government, and i n 1951 enacted th e Ne w Yor k s ta te Defense Emergenc y
Ac t, wh i ch e mpowered th e Ci t y of Ne w Yor k t o crea te a Ci vil De f ense Pr ogram .
Th is a c t a ls o r e q u ires cities to recru i t, equ ip, and train volun t e e rs co b e
a uxiliary polic e o fficers ~ ho will act a s a n - d ju r c ~ t o the regul a r Po l ice
Cepartrnents i n t he evenc of a c i vil defense e .. erge ncy or natur 31 d i 33 sc e r
(c i v i L preparedne s s).
 PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF LEGAL MANDATES

The practical method of training auxiliary police to augment the regular

police in the event of a civil preparedness emergency, resulted in basic
uniformed patrol by the auxiliary police officers. It became more obv i ous
by the early 1960's wi th a spiraling increase in cr i me, that in addition to
satisfying state and local mandates, uniformed auxiliary police patrol was a
effective means to deter crime.

During recent years auxiliary police uniformed patrol has become a vital
part of the Department's crime deterrence program. In addition, the Auxil-
iary Police Program has become an intergral part of the Department's Com-
munity Relations Program by affording citizens the opportunity to study po-
lice work, learn police objectives and goals, and actually work with the
Department in protecting the neighborhood where they live. The auxiliary
police visibly bridge the gap between the police and the community, leading
to greater police effectiveness.

MISSION OF AUXILIARY FORCES SECTION

FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED, THE MISSION OF THE AUXILIARY FORCES SECTION

BECOMES 'rHREEFOLD:

1. To assist the police in deterring crime by having auxiliary

police perform uniformed patrol.

2. To maintain a force of trained auxiliary police that would

augment the regular police force in the event of a civil
preparedness emergency.

3. To help bridge the gap between the police and the community
(via the auxiliary police officer), thereby improving
community relations.

SUPERVISION

The Auxi li ary Forces Section, the main headquarters of the auxiliary po-
lice, is staffed with police personnel who provide staff assistance to pre-
c inct units, oversee the operation of the entire program, and set the pol i cy
of its city-wide operation. Ea c h of the seven (7) Police Patrol Borough
2omrna nd s, in the city, hav e a regular police c aptain and police of fi c er as -
s i gned as supervisor and coordinator for the a uxiliary police wi thin t ha t
juri sdi c tion.

At t he precinct lev e l , a regular p ol ice of f icer, under t he direct io n o f

t he p r e c inct c ommander, i s resp o ns i b le f or t h e e ffe c t i v eness o f t h e Aux i l -
~c r y Po l i c e P ~og r aIT. wi t h i n that c ommand . Th i s d es ig nated au x i li a r y p o l ic e
: oo r di na tor is p r i ~ a r il y as s i gned to t hat fun cti on . He rec r uits , tr ains ,
3'J ~ a ::-v is es , ~nd dirac t s ':ha lecal a u: : ~:':"a r y po L :.ca nit .
 Police commanders have evidenced a great respect for the enthusiasm and
effective contribution the volunteers render to the Department's total cr i me
prevention program. Their response to police and community needs has a
positive effect on police-community relations.

AUXILIARY ORGANIZATION

The units of the auxiliary police are as follows:

a. HEADQUARTERS - city-wide in scope and territorial jurisdiction, en-

compassing all units of the auxiliary police.
b. PATROL BOROUGH AUXILIARY POLICE COMMAND - includes the geographical
boundaries coextensive with those of a Police Patrol Borough Command.

c. PATROL BOROUGH AUXILIARY POLICE DIVISION COMMAND - includes the geo-

graphical boundaries coextensive with those of a Police Division Command.

d. AUXILIARY POLICE PRECINCT UNITS - same geographical boundaries as

regular police precinct.

The rank structure within the Auxiliary Police Program is as follows:

The ranks of the auxiliary police are structured along the same lines as
the Police Department. Unlike the Police Department, where the highest uni-
formed member is the Chief of Operations, the highest rank in the auxiliary
police is "Auxiliary Inspector". The ranks of the auxiliary police are al-
ways prefaced by the word "AUXILIARY". The order of rank in the auxiliary
police are (highest rank listed first):
AUXILIARY INSPECTOR
AUXILIARY DEPUTY INSPECTOR
AUXILIARY CAPTAIN
AUXILIARY LIEUTENANT
AUXILIARY SERGEANT
AUXILIARY POLICE OFF I CER

I t is important to not e that in New York Ci ty, aux i liary pol i ce offic-
ers, r egardless of r ank , do not exercise author i ty over regular police of-
fi cers.

QUALI FICATIONS

-Ages 17 thr o ugh 60 , i n g ood h e a l t h ( p e rsons ov e r 60 ma y e n r oll ,

b ut mus t be a ss i gned to a dm i n i st r ati ve du t y o nly . Suc h as s ignment s hal l be
ma d e wi th the rec ommendati on o f the preci nc t o r un it comma ndi ng of f i cer a nd
f i na l ap prov al of t h e Commandi ng Of f icer, Au xili ary Fo rces s ection ) .
- A U. S. c i t ize n or a pe rson dho ha s d e clare d h is i nte n t i ons to become a
r:: itize n.
- : 10 previo us a rr e st c onvic tio ns which woul d pre ve nt ac cepta nc e .
-Must b e abl e to pa ss a ch a r a cte r i nv e s t i g a t i o n .
- Mus t b e a ble t o re a d a nd ~ r i te Engl i s h .
- !'lL!st l iv e or dor k '. ii tr: i n t. he city o f .ie '. ; '! G r ~ · .
 UNIFORM

The auxiliary police uniform is essentially the same as the regular po-
lice officers, with these exceptions: the sleeve patch i s clearly marked
"AUXILIARY", the badge is a distinct 7 pointed metal shield - not resembling
the regular police shield. New members, upon acceptance into the program,
receive a uniform voucher to cover initial expenses for required uniform
items.

TRAINING

Auxiliary police recruits attend primary training courses at loca l pre-

cincts. The fifty (50) hour course is conducted over a sixteen (16) week
period by qualified police instructors. It encompasses police science, so-
cial science, self defense tactics, law, police procedures, civil defense
duties, crowd and traffic, field training, first aid and other related sub-
jects which prepare the volunteer to function effectivel y . Wh i le the re-
cruit is attending the sixteen week course, a background investigation is
conducted. After successfully completing the Primary Training Course and
found acceptable for the Program, the volunteer is then ass i gned to a local
police precinct. APO's receive periodic in-sel~ice training at their local
urtits to keep them informed of new procedures, and re-enforce material pre-
viously presented. Intermediate and Advanced Courses of twelve (12) and
eleven (11) weeks respectively, are necessary for those desiring promot i ons.

DUTIES

In a general discussion of their duties, it is important to note that

there are limitations placed on the New York City's Auxiliary's powers and
responsibilities. Auxiliaries do NOT rep l ace pol i ce officers, rather they
assist them. These limitations are of primary importance if the balanced
relationship between the professional police officer and the citizen volun-
teer is to be maintained. The assignments and hazards faced by the two are
different. The Auxilia r y volunteers do not possess powers o f arrest beyond
that of other citizens, even wh il e on duty a nd i n uni f o rm . HO\",e v e r , the y
receive courses of instruction regarding the c iti zens powers o f arrest and
have effectively utilized this i nformation wh i le per f ormi ng their dut i es.
The philosophy of the program is that as an adjunct to the Police Depart -
ment, its members function as the "Eyes and Ears" \·]i th pr imary f unct i ons de-
scr i bed as patrol, observ e and report.

Auxiliary police of f icers pat r o l in pairs . The p r esence of un i fo r me d

a ux i li ary police offic e rs on t he stre et, a s a d e terring factor, is
pa ramount. Patrol teams ar e equ ippe d with a wa l k ie - t a lki e rad i o , c a pabl e of
r e cei vi ng a nd send i ng me s sa g es on a uth or ized police f reque nci e s . Eac h Au x -
i l ia r y Pol ic e Prec i nct Un i t has a di sti nc tl ! ma r ked (wh i t e ) Aux ili r y r adio
c a r a ss i gned .
 The assignments of auxiliaries include: patrol in residential and shop-
ping areas, at bus and train stops, schools, playgrounds, houses of worship,
parks, local civic events and meetings, sporting events, block parties and
festivals, and other locations where the Police Commanding Officer feels
that their uniformed presence can provide assistance and protection to the
community.

Auxiliaries do not normally patrol between 12 midnight and 8:00 AM, but
are available for special assignments at emergencies on a city-wide basis.
These may include blackouts, weather emergencies, flooding conditions, and
other calamities of a larger scope. Auxiliaries are not assigned to
plainclothes duty, strikes, hazardous duty, civil rights demonstrations,
confrontation type situations, or to assignments where their personal safety
may be jeopardized.

AUXILIARY EMERGENCY SERVICE FORCE

There are fourteen (14) Auxiliary Police Emergency Service Forces Units
with fully equipped rescue vehicles attached to police commands within the
city. These units serve as an auxiliary arm of the Police Emergency Service
Unit personnel. These Auxiliaries must successfully complete Basic Rescue
training. Response to emergency situations, by the fourteen units, average
some 150 calls monthly.

SPECIALIZED UNITS

In a modern complex urban society, it is necessary for organizations to

specialize if they are to effectively perform their mission . The following
specialized units were created to meet the current needs of a progressive
Auxiliary Police Program:

MOUNTED PATROL - i nitially created to support the patrol function in

Central Park Precinct, it is now being expanded on a c i ty-wide basis:

HARBOR - an au x il i ary unit assists the Harbor u n i t of the Police De-

pa rtment in patrolling waterways, marinas, and doc k ing f a cilities of this
city.

S PECIAL TAS K FORC E - aug ~e nts

regular p o li ce a t beaches, sporting
e v e nt s, a nd special e vents, thereby increasing auxi l i ary response at c om-
mands as ne e ds dic ta te.

- HIGHWAY PATROL - assi s t r egu la r po lice o n highway s a nd lim i ted acces s

road\vays .
 NEW YORK CITY COMMITMENT

Ranking superior officers of the New York city Police Department have
evaluated the Auxiliary Police Program favorably. Commanding officers ac-
knowledge, encourage, and fully utilize this valuable community resource.
The ongoing program is meeting with great success. It receives f a vorable
comment from community leaders and residents of neighborhoods they serve.

The Police Commissioner has made it clear that the Auxiliary Police Pro-
gram is one of the best vehicles offered by the Department for involving the
citizenry in promoting public safety through their personal participation.