Volunteer Fire Police

[Fuerza]

I am just wondering if anyone here has ever volunteered with a fire police squad. I'm thinking of doing this if I wind up taking one of the non-LE jobs for which I'm in the running and would like to hear about other's experiences. From some basic research I've learned that they have peace-officer status when at a fire scene and are typically unarmed, although I'm not sure if they have OC or anything like that. They are primarily responsiblefor directing taffic, but also have some limited arrest powers for certain crimes committed at a fire scene. If anyone could add to this, either through personal experience as a volunteer or through having worked with them, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

[JayMan2006]

if you are interested in LE and arrest powers and whatnot why not go NYPD.. i heard they are pretty flexible about the requirments and standards.. they are looking to hire alot of people...i dont know you personally so i dont know what type of thing you are looking for.. but like i said if you want to get into LE and reading your post it looks as though you want some professional status as far as arrest powers and all.. i would say NYPD to get a start and then move out into a different PD in NY after getting your training and experience.. you dont want to end up being the guy that acts like he is a full time police officer worrying about arrest powers, flashing lights, etc as a volunteer...

[CO1259]

Except that there have been problems lately with the administration in NYPD not releasing Officer's records to other depts who are doing background investigations. Best bet is to stay outta NYPD if you can help it.

[JPD6541]

First and foremost, you will have to join a Volunteer Fire Dept...then you have to take the Firefighter 1 course which is 87 hours I beleive...Then when a fire police course comes along, you have to take that, which is only 12 hours or so.

All you do is direct traffic...I have never seen anyone arrested by a Fire Police officer

[mark7777]

I am just wondering if anyone here has ever volunteered with a fire police squad. I'm thinking of doing this if I wind up taking one of the non-LE jobs for which I'm in the running and would like to hear about other's experiences. From some basic research I've learned that they have peace-officer status when at a fire scene and are typically unarmed, although I'm not sure if they have OC or anything like that. They are primarily responsiblefor directing taffic, but also have some limited arrest powers for certain crimes committed at a fire scene. If anyone could add to this, either through personal experience as a volunteer or through having worked with them, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.


If your interest is LE the fire police is not the way to go they are usually retired firefighters and usally 65 and older so if your like 20 it will be hard to feel comftorable with the seniors I would think.
but fire police may be peace officers but I have never seen one arrest anyone and even if they needed to do that they usually call local pd to do that. Fire police is not what your loking for.

[nyc2235]

"Except that there have been problems lately with the administration in NYPD not releasing Officer's records to other depts who are doing background investigations. Best bet is to stay outta NYPD if you can help it."


Thats only port authority police. Nassau PD, Suffolk PD, MTAPD, and I think NYSP, get the information about work history through the polygraph, so they dont require records from NYPD.

[Fuerza]

if you are interested in LE and arrest powers and whatnot why not go NYPD.. i heard they are pretty flexible about the requirments and standards.. they are looking to hire alot of people...i dont know you personally so i dont know what type of thing you are looking for.. but like i said if you want to get into LE and reading your post it looks as though you want some professional status as far as arrest powers and all.. i would say NYPD to get a start and then move out into a different PD in NY after getting your training and experience.. you dont want to end up being the guy that acts like he is a full time police officer worrying about arrest powers, flashing lights, etc as a volunteer...

I'm actually in the running for a few local police departments. I'm just looking into some LE related volunteer possibilities if I decide to take one of the non-LE jobs that I've been offered. The reason that I'm not interested in NYPD is partially the pay, and also because I now live up near Albany. I'm only in NYC once or twice a month now to visit family.

[JayMan2006]

i think your missing the point that most are making.. its just that you dotn want to come off as a wannabe LEO...if you are only interested in volunteering to get some Police Power you are looking in the wrong fields.. Fire Police are not police officers nor would they really have any police powers.. Be careful where you go with this.. its your choice but im sure alot of people will look down on it.. maybe try Auxilary Police.. that might be a better idea rather than fire police..

[swax119]

Generally fire police are the senior members of a FD that can no longer go into fight fires but still want to help

[mark7777]

Generally fire police are the senior members of a FD that can no longer go into fight fires but still want to help
yes senior very senior as in 65 and above on average.

[Fuerza]

I'm not interested in it for the power. I just want to do something in the police/fire/ems area in the event that I take a civilian job. I'm long over the little power trip that I had when I first decided to become a cop.

[ML75]

Forget the fire police. Public interaction and impact are near zero as a fire police. If you really want to serve the community, I'd recommend either joining a volunteer fire department as a firefighter or becoming an EMT with either a volunteer or paid agency.

No disrespect to fire police, I'm glad they are there on some of our calls. Directing traffic is a PITA.

[b2108mortars]

Forget the fire police. Public interaction and impact are near zero as a fire police. If you really want to serve the community, I'd recommend either joining a volunteer fire department as a firefighter or becoming an EMT with either a volunteer or paid agency.

No disrespect to fire police, I'm glad they are there on some of our calls. Directing traffic is a PITA.

Fuerza's problem is that he's on Staten Island. IIRC, there is only one volunteer departments there, and if he's not within responding distance, it's of no use to him. So fire police may be the only option.

[swax119]

fire police area a unit of a volunteer fire dept, they dont have their own group...he would have to move out of NYC essentially.

[JohnDoe61]

If you want to volunteer your time why dont you join the NYPD Auxiliary?

[Fuerza]

If you want to volunteer your time why dont you join the NYPD Auxiliary?

I now live upstate near Albany. Now I'm only in NYC a few times a month to visit family. I just haven't updated my profile in a while. I'm also actually leaning again towards a full-time LE job since I'm so close to the top of the lists for the departments to which I've applied and have actually already begun the background with one.

[JohnDoe61]

I now live upstate near Albany. Now I'm only in NYC a few times a month to visit family. I just haven't updated my profile in a while. I'm also actually leaning again towards a full-time LE job since I'm so close to the top of the lists for the departments to which I've applied and have actually already begun the background with one.


good luck brother.