N.Y. Town Law § 25-a

§ 25-a. Fingerprints of persons before appointment as town policemen,\nor as constables possessing powers in criminal matters. No person shall\nbe appointed or reappointed a member of the police department, or a\nspecial policeman, or a constable not limited to powers and duties in\ncivil actions and proceedings only, in any town, who shall not\npreviously, for the purposes of this section, have submitted\nfingerprints in the form and manner prescribed by the division of\ncriminal justice services to the town board or other board or officer of\nthe town empowered by law to make such appointment or reappointment, and\nit 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