The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may appoint not more than four persons employed as investigators in the security unit of the Department of Consumer Protection, upon the nomination of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, to act as special policemen in said unit. Such appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection. During such tenure, they shall have all the powers conferred on state policemen while investigating or making arrests for any offense arising from the operation of any off-track betting system or the conduct of any lottery game. Such special policemen shall be certified under the provisions of sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive.