§ 2-46. Law enforcement.

(a)

Police department.

(1)

Established. There is established a department of the city to be known as the police department.

(2)

Personnel. The police department shall consist of a chief of police who shall be the head of department and such other personnel as may from time to time be employed. All members of the police department shall be employed in the manner provided by the personnel manual for the appointment of other city employees.

(3)

Oath and bond. Police officers shall take an oath or affirmation, which oath or affirmation shall comply with N.M.S.A. 1978, §§ 14-13-1 et seq.

(4)

Powers and duties. Police officers shall have all the powers and duties as prescribed by N.M.S.A. 1978, § 3-13-2, this Code and other city ordinances as otherwise invested and directed by the city council.

(b)

Special police officers.

(1)

Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Special police officer means any person who has been commissioned as a special police officer pursuant to this article for the purpose of performing particular, limited, specific or specialized police duties as ordered and directed by the chief of police.

(2)

Appointment. The chief of police, subject to confirmation by the city manager, may appoint qualified persons as special police officers for the purpose of performing particular specialized, limited, or specific police tasks or duties, provided such persons are qualified for such duties by experience or training. Temporary or probationary appointments as special police officers or trainees may be made pending training and qualification of such persons in particular police duty.

(3)

Oath. Persons appointed as special police officers shall take an oath or affirmation, which shall conform to the requirements of N.M.S.A. 1978, § 14-9-2.

(4)

Commission and identification card. A person appointed and sworn as a special police officer shall received a commission card evidencing status as a special police officer. Such commission card shall be carried by the special police officer at all times when engaged in duties as special police officer.

(5)

Limitation of duties. Persons appointed as special police officers shall perform only the particular, special, or limited duty which may be assigned to them and for which they are qualified. Special police officers shall not perform other police duties for which they have not been trained or qualified; provided, however, that special police officers may be called upon to assist any police or peace officer in the same manner as other private citizens.

(6)

Authority. A duly constituted and appointed special police officer shall have such authority, and only such limited authority, as has been delegated to such special police officer by the chief of police and which is required for the performance of the particular duty assigned to the special police officer.

(7)

Obedience to orders, rules and regulations. Special police officers shall obey all applicable orders, rules and regulations directed or issued by the chief of police and shall wear or display only such uniforms, badges, or insignias as directed by the chief of police.

(8)

Carrying firearms. No special police officer shall be authorized to carry any firearm unless and until he shall have been first properly instructed and qualified in the use of firearms and an endorsement of such qualification appears upon the member's special police commission card and special police commission card shall have been issued to him by the chief of police when he is called upon to perform an assigned police duty as provided in this article and unless, in the performance of such duty, he is directed by the chief of police to carry such firearm while on duty.

(9)

Impersonation. It shall be unlawful for any person not a bona fide special police officer to wear, carry or display a commission identification card, badge, insignia or uniform or for any such person, in any manner, to represent himself to be a special police officer.

(Ord. No. 428, 5-13-09)