need some opinions...

[jvale00]

I've never been to NYC but I thought they had some really strict laws on firearms even to LEO'S! Places like that never surprise me they're always saying "off duty" or "reserves" aren't allowed to carry - I think its a way of trying to reduce liability but its ridiculous.

[explcdt8]

After checking that wiki article, I went to the ODMP page, and they too said that NYC Auxillaries carry nightsticks.

Which actually surprises me, because I thought they could only be carried by sworn officers in NY.

[TXCharlie]

I've never been to NYC but I thought they had some really strict laws on firearms even to LEO'S! Places like that never surprise me they're always saying "off duty" or "reserves" aren't allowed to carry - I think its a way of trying to reduce liability but its ridiculous.

They do - I don't think NYC even allows you to keep a gun in your own home, unless you're a "special person", like a judge or movie star. And the NYPD enforces that ban.

Like Jakelock, I have emense respect for the Auxillary police officers themselves, but zero respect for the NYPD's weapon policy, or NYC.

[japrufrock]

I am an NYPD Auxiliary member, and what we need more than anything are guns and vests.

The auxiliary program is authorized under state law, and we are allowed to carry under state law, but not by the NYPD. Other auxiliary units around the state carry, and many are required to. I believe it should be an optional training, but a right. Any officer that has been in the program a year, has their CO's endorsement, and can pass the training and physical requirements should be allowed to carry while on duty and to and from duty. We should not be able to carry concealed like regular officers.

This would not change the arrest powers of the auxiliary, but would provide a critical self-defense tool. We wouldn't have to watch videos of auxiliaries getting executed while doing their job exactly right.

The auxiliary police are peace officers, and when activated in an emergency, we do have full arrest powers, so we are a little different than just a neighborhood patrol. Also, NY citizen arrest powers are actually quite broad, so if we witness a crime on patrol we have the full authority to arrest someone (so does everyone else, but having a uniform, calling backup, etc, really helps the process). Also, law has been interpreted and used by DAs so that an auxiliary is "activated" as an LEO for this purpose upon witnessing crime. It is a bit circular, but auxiliaries can and do make collars. for example, though, if you assault an auxiliary, you will be charged with assaulting an officer. Likewise, when auxiliaries are on crowd control or traffic duty, they have the full power of the law behind them, and can arrest people crossing barricades, or just disobeying orders about where to go. This is a critical power as part of the catastrophe response and coordination funciton.

[TXCharlie]

IThe auxiliary program is authorized under state law, and we are allowed to carry under state law, but not by the NYPD.

Why am I not surprised at this?! :mad: