N.Y. Town Law § 25-a

§ 25-a. Fingerprints of persons before appointment as town police\nofficers, or as constables possessing powers in criminal matters. No\nperson shall be appointed or reappointed a member of the police\ndepartment, or a special police officer, or a constable not limited to\npowers and duties in civil actions and proceedings only, in any town,\nwho shall not previously, for the purposes of this section, have\nsubmitted fingerprints in the form and manner prescribed by the division\nof criminal justice services to the town board or other board or officer\nof the town empowered by law to make such appointment or reappointment,\nand it shall be the duty of such board or officer, before making such\nappointment or reappointment, to compare or cause to be compared such\nfingerprints with fingerprints filed with the division of criminal\njustice services; provided, however, that in any case where the\nfingerprints of any such person shall once have been submitted pursuant\nto this section and are on file with the board empowered to make the\nappointment or reappointment, no new submission thereof shall be\nrequired, nor shall such board be required to make or cause to be made\nsuch comparison if such comparison shall have been made previously\npursuant to this section and certification thereof by such department is\non file with such board.\n