A special police officer is an individual at least 21 years old, who holds a commission granted by the Mayor. Generally, a commission authorizes the officer to arrest individuals who trespass or commit offenses on the property described in the commission, exercise the powers of a police officer on the property described in the commission, and exercise the powers of a police officer associated with the property, and direct and control traffic on public highways and roadways in the immediate vicinity of the property.
What is special police in Washington, DC?
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. C. Code, §4-114 (1981).
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. C. Code §23-582A.
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.
What is the jurisdiction of a D.C. Special Police Officer?
- 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?
A. 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:
Have reached the age of twenty-one (21) years old
Be a citizen of the United States
Be of good moral character
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. An applicant who has been dishonorably discharged from the military shall be ineligible to be commissioned as a special police officer.
There are about 7,700 special police officers in the District, and about 4,500 of them are armed, according to Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice. Special Police Officer’s 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 are the requirements to take the course?
- Must be US Citizen, must be 21 years of age or older and be able to pass the basic criminal background check.
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 agency. 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.