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Sec. 21-81. - Reserve created.#
There is hereby created within the town a town police reserve. The town police reserve shall be under the direction and control of the chief of police or his designee.
(Code 1972, §§ 16-31, 16-36)
Sec. 21-82. - Appointment and number.#
(a)
Members to the town police reserve shall be appointed by the town council annually in the month of January to serve for a term of one year. The maximum number of appointed members shall be 40.
(b)
Former, but retired town police officers, who are added to the reserve by virtue of labor contract, shall be in addition to the maximum number and shall be exempt from other entrance qualifications set forth in this article. They must otherwise continue to qualify and are subject to all other ordinances, rules and regulations as are appointed members.
(Code 1972, § 16-32)
Sec. 21-83. - Qualifications.#
Qualification for membership, or continuing membership, shall be the following: (1)
A member must be a resident of the town.
(2)
A member must not be less than 21 years of age.
(3)
A member must be of a weight proportionate with the member's build.
(4)
A member must never have been convicted of a crime.
(5)
A member, at the member's expense, must successfully pass a physical examination by the police surgeon. Such examination shall follow the standards established by the National Association of Police and Fire Surgeons.
(6)
A member must be a high school graduate or its equivalent and shall be tested for educational background and experience in spelling, word definitions, English comprehension, arithmetic, history, geography and knowledge of current events. Every applicant shall be given intelligence and psychological tests to determine his attitudes and aptitudes for this service, and he must also pass a physical agility test.
(7)
A member must be of acceptable personal integrity and of good moral background as determined by investigation and recommendation.
(8)
A member shall be required to qualify annually, with the firearm with which such member is to be armed, by the town police firearms instructor, or an instructor designated by the chief of police.
(9)
A member, at the member's expense, must have the necessary uniforms and equipment and must agree to accept the police details assigned.
(10)
A member must have worked voluntarily at least four hours per month as a police reserve during the year preceding reappointment, as a community service.
(11)
A member must also have been appointed by the town council, to be a special constable under G.L. 1956, § 45-16-8.
(Code 1972, § 16-33)
Sec. 21-84. - Exceptions to certain qualifications.#
Persons currently serving in the police reserve on February 25, 1976, shall belong to the town's police reserve and shall be exempt from the provisions set forth in section 21-83(2), (3) and (6).
(Code 1972, § 16-34)
Sec. 21-85. - Oath.#
Every member shall take the following oath: "I, ___________, do solemnly swear to uphold the Constitutions of the United States and of the State of Rhode Island, that I will execute my duties as a police reserve to the best of my ability, faithfully and impartially enforcing all the laws and ordinances, zealously guarding the constitutional rights of all persons and promptly obeying the orders of the officers appointed over me, all in accordance with the regulations of the Bristol police department. So help me, God."
(Code 1972, § 16-35)
Sec. 21-86. - Training.#
All members of the reserve shall successfully complete the reserve training school within one year of appointment and shall attend and be retrained a minimum of once every five years through a school set up by the state municipal police academy or through approved in-service training. There will be no exceptions to this section.
(Code 1972, § 16-37)
Sec. 21-87. - Powers; bearing of firearms.#
When on active duty, members shall have the powers of police officers, except as otherwise limited by ordinances of the town or laws of the state or the United States. Members shall not, on any occasion, bear firearms, unless specifically authorized to do so by the chief of police, and only while in full uniform.
(Code 1972, § 16-38)
Sec. 21-88. - Chief of police to promulgate rules.#
The chief of police is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, subject to approval by the town administrator, for the operation and training of the town police reserve, and not inconsistent with ordinances of the town.
(Code 1972, § 16-39)