Auxiliary Police Training

The New Jersey Emergency Management Law (Title 58, Appendix A:9-33.1) provides for the creation of auxiliary police to augment the forces of the regular police in the event of emergencies. 24 of the 70 municipalities in Bergen County have established auxiliary police organizations.

Auxiliary police is a volunteer program that is organized by emergency management and operationalized by the municipal police department. Auxiliary police officers (who are not paid) are under the direction of the police chief when performing their duties in an emergency or are training.

The Bergen County Office of Emergency Management in conjunction with the Bergen County Police and Fire Academy holds an annual training class at the academy for these volunteers. Their course of instruction includes:

• Auxiliary police powers and emergency management
• Human relations
• Patrol functions
• Use of force & tactical awareness
• Arrest, search & seizure, courts & evidence
• Radiological emergencies
• Hazardous material awareness
• First aid & CPR

To find out if your municipality has an auxiliary police organization, please contact your municipal OEM coordinator. If you have other questions you may e-mail the webmaster by clicking here.