5 Things to Know About the Royal Oak Auxiliary Police

To be a member of the Royal Oak Auxiliary Police is a unique challenge but a wonderful opportunity to make Royal Oak a better place to live and work.

The elite group of approximately 17 volunteers stand ready to serve, assisting the police department at parades, concerts, street fairs and park patrols. Officers also perform crime prevention activities and residential vacation checks.

Patch spent a night riding with Rob Winter, who has been a member of the unit for two decades, for a firsthand view of a night on local patrol. 

5 things to know about auxiliary police 

Auxiliary police officers are:

1. Unarmed

Members do not carry weapons.

“I have a can of pepper spray and that’s it,” said Winter.  “We always have contact with the Royal Oak Police so I never worry. I know the police will respond if I need it.”

Members are trained to stay in the car and avoid confrontation, he said. 

2. Uniformed and equipped

Members wear uniforms, identification badges and drive auxiliary police patrol cars with radios, red and blue lights and alley lights used to illuminate dark places. 

The auxiliary police also have bikes.

“We patrol the Clay, Glass & Metal Show (in downtown Royal Oak) overnight on bikes,” Winter said. Members watch over the eighth of a mile stretch of artists’ tents. “People could see and hear cars coming, so we ride bikes to be stealth.”

3. Trained

Members are required to participate in a 30-hour in-service training program. They receive training in CPR, first aid, blood borne pathogens, crime prevention, traffic control, as well as other training, according to the City of Royal Oak’s website.

“For the first year you have to drive with a veteran officer,” Winter said. “You need to log 140 hours before you can ride alone.”

Winters said candidates develop a sense of harmony over time.

“We get to know what goes with which buildings,” he said. “If it’s dark and we know no one should be here and there is someone, we have to question it.”

Winter said being able to look for things that are out of harmony with the community takes time. 

“We are in no hurry,” he said. If a candidate for the auxiliary police shows potential, he or she may get their probation period extended, he said. 

4. Observant

“We see things people don’t get to see,” Winter said.

In addition to watching over neighborhoods, members look out for things such as water main breaks or objects in the road.  They show up as a secondary response when there is an accident to help direct traffic or watch equipment. Members also walk through the soccer and ice arenas and help with football games at Royal Oak High School.

The uniqueness of the auxiliary police is the majority are residents of Royal Oak. They come from all different career backgrounds including engineers, nurses, security officers, government employees and retirees, according to Sgt. Al Carter of the Royal Oak Police.

“We make a presence,” Winter said, serving not only as assistance to the police department but also a visual deterrent for the community.  

There are also a number of parades, festivals, concerts and special events, such as the Dream Cruise, that members assist with police by monitoring crowd size or helping disperse people.

5. Dedicated

“To be good at anything you have to devote some time,” said Winter.

Being a member of the Royal Oak Auxiliary Police takes commitment, he said. And by the way, the pay is not very good. Remember it’s a volunteer position. The average member logs about 100 hours of service per year.

"It's not a job. And we're not the police. But I would recommend this to anyone who wants to feel like they have some say in their community," Winter said.

Consider joining

The police department is looking for civic-minded men and women of all ages willing to volunteer.

You must be 21 years old, have a good driving record and no arrest/convictions on your record.  Candidates will be fingerprinted and a criminal/ driving history will be conducted. 

Again, there is no age limit but you must be able to perform the duties of the position.  

You must be a U. S. Citizen and either live or work in Royal Oak.

Click here to fill out an application. The completed application should be mailed to:

Auxiliary Police Program Coordinator
221 E. Third St.
Royal Oak, MI 48067