Section 412. Special policemen  


Latest version.
  • 1. For the purpose of preserving order and
      preventing offenses against the laws prohibiting gambling, the  officers
      or  directors of any corporation or association created under or subject
      to the provisions of this article are hereby authorized to appoint  from
      time  to  time,  special  policemen, and the same to remove at pleasure,
      who, when appointed, shall be peace officers with the same powers within
      and about such grounds as are set forth in section 2.20 of the  criminal
      procedure  law  whose  duty,  when appointed, shall be to preserve order
      within and around the grounds and  racetracks  of  said  corporation  or
      association,  to  protect  the property within said grounds, to eject or
      arrest all persons who shall be improperly within the  grounds  of  such
      corporation or association or who shall be guilty of disorderly conduct,
      or  who  shall neglect or refuse to pay the fees or to observe the rules
      prescribed by said corporation or  association;  and  it  shall  be  the
      further duty of said policemen, when appointed to prevent all violations
      of  law  with reference to pool-selling, bookmaking, and other gambling,
      and to arrest any and all persons  violating  such  provisions,  and  to
      convey such person or persons so arrested, with a statement of the cause
      of such arrest, before a magistrate having jurisdiction of such offense,
      to  be  dealt  with  according  to  law. The appointment of policemen in
      pursuance of this section shall not be deemed to supersede in any way on
      the grounds  and  racetrack  of  such  corporation  or  association  the
      authority  of  peace  officers  or  police  officers of the jurisdiction
      within which such grounds and racetrack are located.
        2. Any appointment of a special policeman under  this  section,  shall
      only  be  made with the approval of the state racing and wagering board.
      Application for such approval shall be in such form as may be prescribed
      by the board and shall contain such other  information  or  material  or
      evidence  as  the  board  shall require. In acting on an application for
      such approval the  board  shall  consider  the  background,  experience,
      integrity,  and  competence of the candidate for appointment, the public
      interest, convenience or necessity and the interests  of  quarter  horse
      racing  generally.  The  board in its discretion may set the term of any
      such appointment, terminate any existing appointment  at  any  time  and
      prescribe conditions and rules for the conduct of such office.