OPINION: NYPD’s Auxiliary Police Officers Risk Their Lives Daily, But Are Not Protected From Attacks – This Should Change

It’s Time to Protect Those Who Protect Us — Even When They Do It for Free

Every day across New York City, thousands of men and women put on an NYPD uniform, clip on a radio, and step out onto our streets to keep their neighbors safe. They do it without pay, without benefits, and too often, without the recognition or protection they deserve.

These are our Auxiliary Police Officers—dedicated volunteers who contribute over a million hours annually to patrol neighborhoods, direct traffic, and serve as the department’s “eyes and ears.” In a city that constantly needs more oversight, their presence is crucial. Still, when it comes to safety and respect, they’re often treated like second-class citizens.

That has to change.

A Uniform Target

Auxiliary Police Officers wear the same NYPD blue uniform as full-time officers. To the public—and to criminals—there’s no difference. When danger arises, an attacker doesn’t stop to check whether the person in front of them holds a city paycheck or a volunteer ID.

We learned that in the most painful way imaginable.

On March 14, 2007, two unarmed auxiliaries—Nicholas Pekearo, 28, and Yevgeniy “Eugene” Marshalik, 19—were executed in Greenwich Village after confronting an armed killer. Both were volunteers, both were off the city payroll, and both died heroes. Police officials credited them with preventing greater carnage that night.

Their sacrifice is not an anomaly. Since the program’s founding in 1950, seven NYPD Auxiliary Officers have died in the line of duty. Every one of them served not for a paycheck, but out of pride, duty, and love for this city.

A Dangerous Legal Gap

Here’s what most New Yorkers don’t realize: under current state law, these volunteers aren’t protected at the felony level if they are attacked while on duty.

New York’s “assault on a police officer” statute enforces severe felony penalties when someone injures a sworn or peace officer. However, Auxiliary Police—who wear the same uniform, face the same dangers, and are viewed as police by offenders—aren’t included.

That means someone who seriously injures a sworn officer faces a felony, while someone who does the same to an auxiliary might only face a misdemeanor. That’s not justice—it’s a dangerous oversight.

State lawmakers like Senator Joe Addabbo and Assemblymember David Weprin have acknowledged this and are leading the effort to address it. Their proposal would classify serious assaults on Auxiliary Police Officers as a Class E violent felony, with a fixed sentence of 1½ to 4 years. That’s a clear, credible deterrent—and a long-overdue recognition that service and sacrifice deserve protection, regardless of who signs your paycheck.

A Modest but Vital Investment

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Beyond the legal gap, there’s a safety gap we can fix right now: bullet-resistant vests.

While regular NYPD officers have recently received upgraded vests, many auxiliaries are still wearing outdated or unissued protection—if they have any at all. Equipping every Auxiliary Police Officer with modern body armor would cost approximately $4 million citywide.

That’s less than the cost of repaving a small stretch of road or a day of city overtime. With that amount, we could actually save lives. These volunteers walk our streets, direct traffic, and stand outside subways and parades right alongside officers. The least we can do is offer them the same protection.

Respect and Recognition

For decades, New York’s Auxiliary Police have served as the quiet glue that keeps our neighborhoods intact. They assist with parades, street fairs, and late-night foot patrols that help communities feel safer. They are retirees, students, and working New Yorkers who sacrifice weekends and holidays to support their city.

But too often, they are invisible.

They deserve better—from City Hall, Albany, and all of us. That means felony-level protection under state law, modern safety gear, and the basic respect we give every New Yorker who runs toward danger instead of away from it.

A Call to Action

I plan to advocate for funding in the city budget to ensure every Auxiliary Police Officer receives a new bullet-resistant vest. I also encourage my colleagues on the Council to support the state legislation that aims to increase penalties for assaults on these volunteers.

This isn’t a partisan or budget issue — it’s a moral one. We ask these men and women to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our officers, wear the same uniform, and serve the same mission. The least we can do is stand with them.

When the call comes, when the siren sounds, or when something feels wrong on a dark street corner—Auxiliary Police Officers don’t ask whether it’s part of their job description. They act. They protect. They serve.

Now it’s time for the city and state they serve to do the same for them.