Circumstantial Powers of “Special Fire Police” in Pennsylvania: Statutory Consequences and Recommendations

Abstract

Volunteer police have been an instrumental part of Western policing since the inception of the concept of police. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania utilizes volunteer police under the title of “Special Fire Police.” Described as “firemen cloaked with police powers” in corresponding case law, these volunteers are statutorily provided with full powers to regulate traffic and keep crowds under control at any fire or emergency and to exercise other police powers which are necessary to prevent interference with the work of firemen. Although these volunteers have been in use for more than 50 years, the other police powers they are granted by law have remained largely undefined. This research will examine the current statutory and case law relevant to special fire police as well as those relevant to general Pennsylvania police powers to demonstrate the circumstantially defined police powers that could be adopted based on interpretation.