SECTION 1. The mayor of the City of North Adams may appoint, as the police chief deems necessary, retired North Adams police officers as special police officers to perform police details or any duties arising from police details or during the course of police detail work, whether or not related to the detail work. the police chief shall have discretion to hire only retired North Adams police officers as special police officers and shall establish department rules, procedures and policers concerning these appointments. The mayor shall appoint retired North Adams police officers who served as regular North Adams police officers and are retired based on superannuation. No retired police officer shall be appointed under this act as a special police officer if that officer has been retired more than 5 years without having maintained proper certification by Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Special police officers shall not be subject to the same maximum age restrictions as applied to regular North Adams police officers under Chapter 32 of the General Laws. Prior to appointment under this act, a retired North Adams police officer may, at the appointing authority request, pass a medical examination by a physician or other certified professional chosen or agreed to by the department to determine whether the retired North Adams police officer can perform the essential duties of a special police officer under this act. The cost of the medical examination shall be borne by the retired North Adams police officer.

SECTION 2. Special police officers appointed under this act shall not be subject to Chapter 31, or to section 150E of Chapter 41, of the General Laws.

SECTION 3. When performing the duties set forth in section 1, special police officers shall have the same power to make arrests and to perform other police functions as do regular police officers in the City of North Adams.

SECTION 4. A special police officer appointed pursuant to this act shall be appointed until the age of 70; provided, however, that special police officer shall be an at-will appointment subject to removal by the police chief at their discretion at any time. All benefits afforded to special police officers appointed under this act shall terminate upon the conclusion of the employment term. A special police officer's appointment shall automatically terminate upon reaching the last day of the month in which the officer's 70th birthday has occurred.

SECTION 5. Special police officers appointed under this act shall be subject to the rules and regulations, policies and procedures and requirements as the police chief may impose from time to time including, but not limited to, restrictions on the type and number of details assignments, requirements regarding medical examinations to determine continuing fitness and capability to perform the duties of a special police officer, requirements for training, requirements for firearms licensing and qualifications, requirements for maintaining of a medical and/or liability insurance policy, and requirements regarding uniforms and equipment. The police chief may, at their discretion, set a schedule of fees associated with the costs of training, medical examinations, equipment, uniforms and any other requirements considered necessary by the police chief that shall be paid by the special police officer appointed under this act.

SECTION 6. Special police officers appointed under this act shall be sworn in by the city clerk at the direction of the mayor.

SECTION 7. Sections 111F of Chapter 41 of the general laws shall not apply to special police officers under this act. Sections 85H and 85H 1/2 of Chapter 32 of the general laws shall not apply to special police officers appointed under this act.

SECTION 8. Appointment as a special police officer shall not entitle the appointee to assignment to any detail.

SECTION 9. Retired North Adams police officers serving as special police officers under this act shall be subject to the limitations on hours worked and on earning restrictions as provided in paragraph (b) of section 91 of Chapter 32 of the general laws.

SECTION 10. The mayor, as the appointing authority, for the city will have final say in all appointments and removals of special police officers under this act.

SECTION 11. This act shall take effect upon its passage.