Why Should Georgia Create an Auxiliary Police Force?

S.B. 347 introduced by Senator James February 2, 2010 creates a reserve auxiliary police force within a sheriff’s department or local police department. Local law enforcement agencies would recruit “in sufficient number” auxiliary police reserves to stand ready, willing, and able to provide auxiliary police services in a state of emergency or serious local crisis.

Members must be of good character, at least 21 years of age, U.S. citizens with no criminal record or history of mental health confinement. Their name, birth date, social security number and contact data will be registered and, if they move, they must register in their new location.

They would have the power of a peace officer, including the power of arrest, in declared states of emergency, imminent or actual enemy attacks, or natural or manmade disasters. Their duties could include working traffic accidents, traffic light outages, parades, fairs, special or school events, crowd control or neighborhood patrol in marked and unmarked cars. They could patrol trains; train and subway stations and bus terminals; give parking tickets and do clerical work.

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