What is a D.C. Special Police Officer?

 

·         The term Special Police Officer, is any person who is commissioned which have been approved pursuant to this act, and who may be authorized to carry a weapon. They are privately commissioned police officers with full arrest powers within an area or premises which the officer has been employed to protect. The commission is conditional and is required to be renewed each year. D.C. Code, §4-114 (1981).

 

What is the authority of a D.C. Special Police officer?

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Special police officer shall have the same powers as a law enforcement officer to Arrest without a warrant for offenses committed within the premises to which his or her jurisdiction extends or outside the premises on a fresh pursuit for offenses committed on the premises. D.C. Code §23-582A.

 

What is the jurisdiction of a D.C. Special Police Officer?

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Special police officers appointed pursuant to § 1100.1 shall be strictly confined in their authority to the particular place or property which they are commissioned to protect

 

·         To protect the property of one person or corporation located in various sections of the District of Columbia and in more than one police district, and to protect money, securities, or other property being transported between the locations of the property of that person or corporation, or between those locations and certain banks or other depositories. All locations of property, banks, or other places pursuant to § 1101.2 shall be specified upon the face of the commission issued to those special police officers.

 

Special police officers may be appointed under the provisions of D.C. Official Code §4-114 (1981), to protect the property of a number of persons or corporations in one general area.

 

Who can be appointed as a D.C. Special Police Officer?

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No person shall be appointed as a special police officer under the Act of March 3, 1899 (D.C. Official Code §4-114) (1981) or R.S.D.C. No. 378 and 379, June 11, 1878 (D.C. Official Code § 4-130) (1981) unless he or she meets the following requirements:

 

(a) Have reached the age of twenty-one (21) years;

(b) Be a citizen of the United States;

(c) Be of good moral character;

(d) shall be approved for appointment by the Chief of Police, shall possess a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma, or one year of experience as a special police officer in the District of Columbia, shall be able to read, write, and speak the English language, and shall be certified by a licensed physician as physically and psychologically fit to perform the duties of a special police officer.

(e) An applicant who has been dishonorably discharged from the military shall be ineligible to be commissioned as a special police officer.

 

What Training is required for Unarmed and Armed D.C. Special Police Officer commission?

 

·         Individuals who wish to become an Unarmed or Armed Special Police Officer shall complete a 40 hour pre-assignment training pursuant to D.C. Official Code §6A 1107.2. And shall also satisfy all additional initial training standers for firearms and other equipment, as applicable. D.C. Official Code §6A 1107.4.

 

Do I have to be employed to become a Commissioned D.C. Special Police Officer?

 

·         Yes, you must be employed by a licensed D.C. security or proprietary company. Applications for appointment under the provisions of D.C. Official Code §4-114 (1981), shall be made jointly in the names of the prospective special police officers and the names of the persons or corporations in connection with whose property of business the appointment is sought.

 

·         Applicants must bring a completed application with the original signature of an authorized company representative (meaning you must be hired by a security company) to the Security Officers Management Branch (SOMB) for initial screening. 

 

·         Special police officers may be appointed under the provisions of D.C. Official Code §4-114 (1981), to protect the property of one person or corporation at one location, which shall be specified on the face of the commission issued to those special police officers.

 

·         The application shall contain an agreement by the employer applicants to notify the Chief of Police of any termination or change of the employment status of the prospective special police officer.

 

·         Therefore you cannot just pay for a special police officer commission you must be an employee of a company for sponsorship.