Section 13.25. Safety

(a)  The  commissioner  and  the  directors  of  facilities  under his
  jurisdiction may designate safety officers to act as  special  policemen
  whose  duty  it  shall  be,  under orders of the appropriate officer, to
  preserve peace and good order in such facilities and  to  fully  protect
  the  grounds,  buildings,  and  patients. Such safety officers acting as
  special policemen shall possess all the powers of peace officers, as set
  forth in section 2.20 of the criminal procedure  law,  while  performing
  duties  in or arising out of the course of their employment.  Such peace
  officers when acting pursuant to their  special  duties  may  issue  and
  serve  a  simplified  traffic  information and appearance ticket, in the
  form prescribed by  the  commissioner  of  motor  vehicles  pursuant  to
  section  two hundred seven of the vehicle and traffic law, upon a person
  when he has reasonable cause to believe that such person has committed a
  traffic infraction in his presence, and shall have the  power  to  issue
  and  serve  an  appearance  ticket  as  defined in section 150.10 of the
  criminal procedure law for an offense other than a felony in lieu of  an
  arrest.
    (b)  The  commissioner  shall  cause to be developed and implemented a
  comprehensive training program for such safety officers. Such a  program
  is  to be provided to persons hired as safety officers within five weeks
  after such hiring, and  shall  include,  but  need  not  be  limited  to
  training in the following areas:
    1. fire prevention;
    2. basic criminal law;
    3. first aid and cardio pulmonary resuscitation;
    4. conducting investigations;
    5.  rudimentary  police  work,  including issuance of summons, traffic
  control, and lawful use of force;
    6. the proper use of restraint; and
    7. any other training deemed necessary to augment such person's skills
  in providing necessary safety and security services for the facility.