Auxiliary police to get bulletproof vests after NYC shootout

The Manhattan slayings of Eugene Marshalik and partner Nicholas Todd Pekearo on March 14 were "an awful and cold-blooded crime that shocked our entire city," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at a news conference in ...

[Fellow Auxiliary Officer]

Is the NYPD liable for the deaths of the Auxiliary Police Officers?
Let me first express my deepest condolences to the families and the NYPD for the two Auxiliary Officers who died on March 14th. APO Pekearo and APO Marshalik proudly served their communities!
Before continuing, many states authorize the use of volunteer police forces to supplement and enhance current law enforcement agencies. These police officers are typically unpaid sworn officers who provide assistance to departments on a daily basis or during times of emergencies. The City of New York has over 4000 Auxiliary Police Officer who donate over a 1,000,000 (million) hours of community service per year. They provide a uniformed presence to deter crime and function as additional “Eyes and Ears” of the department. Auxiliary Officers patrol in marked vehicles and in uniforms similar to their full time counterparts. Without a detailed inspection, the normal citizen would not know the difference between full-time and volunteer officers who provide a significant crime deterrent benefit to the department. Not too mention the significant cost savings to the department for the unpaid hours of service.(1,000,000 hours at even $11/hour….)
According to Wikipedia, the NYPD ensures their volunteer officers’ safety by “requiring” them to remove themselves from dangerous situations. While this may be an acceptable department policy, does it really reduce the risk of injury to the volunteer officer? Can officers remove themselves when approached by a citizen requesting protection from an attacker? Dangerous situations can and will arise regardless of written department policies. I am certain most full-time officers will state it is ridiculous and irresponsible for someone to patrol in uniform without a weapon. Many Auxiliary Officers do carry pepper spray and batons, but these weapons are not suitable for situations like a crazed gunman. Criminals will not stop and look at the uniform to determine if the officer is a volunteer or not.
Based on this information, my question is if the NYPD should be liable for the deaths of these two Auxiliary Officers. The police department supervisors knew the risks associated with patrolling in uniform. They knew they did not provide the volunteers with the equipment (i.e. bullet-proof vests, side arms) necessary to protect themselves in life threatening situations. The argument could be made that the volunteers knew the risk when joining and completing their training, so the department is not responsible. However, I feel many Auxiliary Officers minimize the risk because police supervisors make statements like “You have a better chance of being struck by lightening than being killed on duty.” In addition, people who volunteer as police officers have a strong sense of community service which helps minimize the inherent risk in their gut until it is too late. Even May Bloomberg plays on this idea by stating “It’s a job where, generally speaking, your life is not at risk but you can make a contribution to everyone else in this city.”
In addition, ordinary citizens in many parts of this country have the authority to carry a weapon and use it to defend themselves. However, Auxiliary Officers are stripped of this right because of “liability” reasons due to a possibility of a part-time officer shooting someone. My question is if you can not trust a person to use their weapon only as a last resort, why are you hiring this person as a police officer?
Finally, I merely ask the question to get departments thinking about their policies and realize they are receiving significant benefits from these volunteers while exposing them to significant risks. While it may be less than one percent risk of being shot or stabbed while patrolling, how many officers need to die to justify the need to arm the volunteers. Had the NYPD decided to arm APO Pekearo and Marshalik, they might still be alive!

[Fellow Auxiliary Officer]

gezzle wrote:

yleooooooooooo shegecit trakshi

What was this?

[nyc APO]

I totally agree with you fellow auxiliary officer. You make a good point.

[will]

well i think auxiliary officers in nyc should atleast! n i say atleast be able to carry a taser gun!

[superman]

All NYPD APOS should be better equipped. Now it was only until after the 2 APO's were brutally slain, the Police Commissioner and the Mayor then publicly says that now the city will purchase the same quality bulletproof vests as normal police officers for the City's Auxiliary Officers. In my opinion I think they would wait until in the future more APO's are injured if not worse, killed. Then they will come to realize the that NY Auxiliary Officers need to be better equipped. But it is not the law that is preventing the APO's from carrying a firearm whilst on duty. It is the Police Department Policy that prevents them from carrying a firearm.

[NYC APO]

Being a member in the NYPD Aux Unit I can say one thing. A bulletproof vest would not have saved the lives of those two fallen men. And they also went against the guidlines and protocols by running towards a gunshot. They made a series of mistakes which ended their lives.

Carrying a firearm is a big responsibility. Something that cannot be let up to men and women who are not paid or given any benifits. And it will cost alot of money to the officers to carry a firearm because you need constant practice and money to maintain a gun. More equipment and training is required but they should not receieve any type of firearms. Currently we carry a baton to defend ourselves. The kevlar vest certainly gives us a moral boost but it no way does it gurentee saftey. The greatest weapon we carry is our radio. We could use some Mace or OC spary but NYPD is worried about arming 17yr olds with OC spray which isn't a toy.

We APOs do this not because we want to "pretend" like a cop. We do this because we want to serve our community. There are people who complain about crimes and problems but very few of them do anything about it. These men and women take action. APOs prevent alot of crime and statistics show how effective the APO force is in NYC. We don't do this so we can get a shield and an uniform. We do this because we want to help.

[NYPD Auxiliary Police]

Auxiliary police officers need better trainning and better equipment including gun, so we can help our community in the right way (instead of running away when someone needs immediate help) and protect ourselves in some dangerous situations. You might ask "how often you're going to encounter that kind of life and death situation?" But don't forget, we only have one chance, one chance to protect and save people or ourselves in those situation. Auxiliary police officers died before on duty without weapon. And I know for sure some auxiliary police officers will lose their lives in the future if we continue without better trainning and firearm. It's just a matter of time.

[APO from Prospect Park NJ]

I have been an auxilary officer for the last 13 years.It is true we are the ears and eyes of our department.At times people think that it is a thankless job and why do we ever want to get involved. We are not the police and should not act as one. If a situation arises that is deemed dangerous we are supposed to back off and contact an available unit for assistance.At times there are situations when we can not wait for help so we have to pray that God will guide us if we choose to help.
We are presently seeking to get vest for our auxilary officers but cost are just to great. It is the price that regular officers pay when they are called upon to serve 24/7. My hats go out to them as they protect and serve our communities. If an auxilary officer wants to carry a gun then he/she should apply for a regular position with the force.

[NYPD Auxiliary Police]

I'm being realistic here. There are some unlucky moments. There are situatuions when you don't have time to back away. Just wait until you're in one, you will pray, pray God to send you a weapon to have a fighting chance, by the time you finish praying, you saw God.
Why can't we carry a gun like other auxiliary police officers do? Why can't we stick to our own job and still give time to help our community? After all, we only ask to have a tool to do our job.

[New York State of Mind]

What i do not understand is why APO's are given different treatment than peace officers. I am a peace officer for NYC DCAS and we are trained and have full carry's. We are not put in nearly as dangerous or stressful situations as APO's, yet we are armed for security purposes.

i think NYPD should allow upstanding and proven APO's to have the ability to upgrade to Peace Officer status to gain a weapon....then pair the armed with the unarmed.

Could this work guys?

[Dan]

NYPD auxiliaries should be inside a police station instead of outside on patrol. The fact that you look like a cop
without a weapon should be enough for the NYPD to use this volunteer force to work inside instead of outside.
There are too many people who "get angry and decide to use guns instead of working the issue without voilence.
I believe that APO should be in vehicles that provide protection from such issues, guns ect., but their presence in public will not stop a "mad man with a gun".
APO should and can be more effective in helping police officers with investigations ( barring any kind of danger) this would help with the ot that these regular officers face.

[NYPD Auxiliary Police]

NYPD auxiliaries should be inside a police station?
Why do we need 4000 plus NYPD auxiliary police officers inside the precints? You have no idea what we do as a NYPD auxiliary police officer. We patrol on the NYC streets for crime deterrent, to reduce the criminal activities, to show the community that there are police presence, to help our people whenever they need and to have them feel that we live in a safe community. Besides all that, we help when there is a street fair, a parade or even a strike. We are doing something good for our people, not out there to look cute.
Yes, we patrol in the police car, but the car is not bulletproof, and we can't just stay in the car the whole time, besides there is not enough vehicles to go around. About the danger out there in the street, I agree, that is why we need better training and better equipments. "this would help with the ot that these regular officers face" What do you mean by that? You say we make the NYPD look bad? If NYPD provides us better training and equipment, the two auxiliary police officers would probably still be alive.

[NYC]

APO's should be able to carry tasers and pepper sprays in addition to radio and nightstick. Those are not lethal weapons but are effective.

[APO 70]

Reading some of the posts you guys put makes me laugh. I've been an auxiliary officer for almost 3years. I met lots of people with the program and it made me want to pursue a career in law enforcement. Not because I want a badge and a uniform. I want to help our citizens in times of need. I like helping people. Thanks to the program I got a great job as a security officer in a private hospital. The program gives you lots of experience and you can learn. The only reason the city uses auxiliary's is to fool the public into thinking there is more cops on the streets. The NYPD is bad enough doesen't anyone read the papers? The city needs to wake up and give us better training. Although, we should have protection, I don't see every auxiliary with a firearm. Some are just too young and some are too old. Everyone is different and not everyone needs and wants to carry. COMMENT FROM DAN- Stay in a police station? Are you kidding me? That defeats the whole purpose. Maybe you should go sit in one all day. Please

[AOP 103]

APO 70 wrote:

Reading some of the posts you guys put makes me laugh. I've been an auxiliary officer for almost 3years. I met lots of people with the program and it made me want to pursue a career in law enforcement. Not because I want a badge and a uniform. I want to help our citizens in times of need. I like helping people. Thanks to the program I got a great job as a security officer in a private hospital. The program gives you lots of experience and you can learn. The only reason the city uses auxiliary's is to fool the public into thinking there is more cops on the streets. The NYPD is bad enough doesen't anyone read the papers? The city needs to wake up and give us better training. Although, we should have protection, I don't see every auxiliary with a firearm. Some are just too young and some are too old. Everyone is different and not everyone needs and wants to carry. COMMENT FROM DAN- Stay in a police station? Are you kidding me? That defeats the whole purpose. Maybe you should go sit in one all day. Please

I AGREED WITH MY FELLOW APOS NYPD NEEDS TO WAKE UP

[LIer]

I think they should be armed like SCPD Auxiliaries and Suffolk Sheriff special deputies.

NYC DCAS Police guard city hall right?

[Retired NYPD AUX OFFICER]

you know.....sometimes things happen in life to people,those two aux police officers that were kill could have been,your mom,your dad,a fire man ,homeless person etc..........every one has a comment about what happen to them, all i can say,it could have happen to anyone and those two aux officers where just simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.When doing any job you can be at risk! we have alot of mental pople who are sick ,we cant give up got to keep going..........to all aux police officers keep going never give up.

[Testing team]

We are just testing..

[New York State of Mind]

LIer wrote:

I think they should be armed like SCPD Auxiliaries and Suffolk Sheriff special deputies.
NYC DCAS Police guard city hall right?

Like I mentioned earlier, I think outstanding APO's should be given the oppurtunity to upgrade to Peace Officer Status like we have here at NYC DCAS. Half of our guys are basically APO's, except they patrol our many facilities and do security based work rather than enforcement.

Then the other half, most who have been on the job for a while or have military experience are given the oppurtunity to go to Special Officer Training which includes speed-cuffing, ASP Baton training, and finally small-arms training which is conducted by NYPD and DOI i believe. They are the elite, but don't bust crime, rather, give the appearance of a police officer and back them up when needed.

To me, it just seems like the most likely and easily implementable policy....those who are able and have a good track record should be able to upgrade and then be partnered with a younger, unarmed, less experience APO when in the field.

[NYPD Auxiliary Police]

Auxiliary police officers on patrol without firearm is like volunteer firefighters fighting fire without water hose. Make sense?