Milford's Auxiliary Police May Return In A New Form

MILFORD, MA — The Milford police department's recently-disbanded auxiliary police unit will potentially return soon in a new form — and new uniforms.

Chief James Falvey this week presented a plan to the Select Board to create a unit of traffic constables. The volunteer constables would help police with a variety of traffic control duties, but will conform to new state policing reform laws.

A 2020 police reform law set training standards for volunteer police, and the deadline to meet those passed on June 30. Under the law, volunteers had to complete 2,400 hours of patrol time that included making arrests. Departments like Milford, Framingham and Wayland disbanded auxiliary units due to trouble meeting the training guidelines.

For many years, volunteer police did have similar powers to patrol officers, including the ability to make arrests in some cases.

Milford's new traffic constables will perform "traffic control, direction and work zone safety only," according to the department policy. The traffic constables will also wear distinct uniforms: black pants, green shirts with the word "traffic" on back and their own unique arm patches. They won't be able to carry a weapon or have a badge, according to the policy.

The Milford Select Board approved the proposal unanimously on Monday.

"The fact that you're ahead of the curve is beneficial to this community," Select Board Chair Tom O'Loughlin said to Falvey on Monday.

Falvey said Wednesday the department hasn't decided how many traffic constables there will be, but said many of the former auxiliary officers have expressed interest in the positions. The traffic constables will need to be trained before they hit the streets, he said.