Bloomfield Police Seeking Volunteer Auxiliary Officers

The Bloomfield Police Community Services Unit is seeking volunteer Auxiliary Police Officers, according to a release.

Candidates must be 18 years of age and satisfy a complete background check. Auxiliary Officers are required to volunteer a minimum of eight hours a month and attend one training meeting monthly.

Functions for assignment to Auxiliary Police Officers include:

• Traffic control

• Crowd control

• Security of federal, state, county, or local government buildings within the community

• Assist with staffing and functioning of the Emergency Operations Center

• Maintenance of order as required and/or directed.

Beginning in May, Auxiliary Police Officers must complete a l2-week Basic Auxiliary Training Program conducted by the Essex County College Police Academy, in cooperation with the Essex County Office of Emergency Management. Classes will be several hours per session and although a class schedule has not yet been set, previous classes have been conducted 2 or 3 times a week and may include some Saturdays.

The curriculum includes: Introduction and Indoctrination; New Jersey Emergency Management Control Plan; Civil Government and Police Agencies; Traffic Control; Patrol Functions; Crowds and Assemblages; Criminal Law; Courts; Preservation of Evidence; Arrest and Seizure; Hazardous Materials Awareness; First Aid; Unarmed Defensive Tactics; OC Spray; Use of Force; Defensive Driving Classroom Instruction; Incident Command; Terry Stops; Handcuffing; Internal Affairs Overview; Disorderly Persons Overview; Gang Awareness; Ethics and Sexual Harassment; Fire Extinguisher Training; and Physical Training/Military Drills.

Applicants need not be residents if their local police department does not host an Auxiliary program and they live within 5 miles of Bloomfield. For more information please contact the Bloomfield Police Community Services Unit before the March 27, 2015 application deadline at 973-680-4627.

To obtain an auxiliary police officer application, participants can go to the BPD website and click on the “Forms” section, pick up an application at Police Headquarters front desk, 1 Municipal Plaza, or email Sgt.Naomi Zepeda at nzepeda@bloomfieldnjpd.com

All applications must be completed and returned by Friday, March 27.