§ 504. Policing off-track betting. 1. For the purpose of preserving order and preventing offenses against the laws prohibiting gambling and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to sections two hundred twenty-two through seven hundred five of this chapter, the officers or directors of each corporation subject to the provisions of this article are hereby authorized to appoint from time to time, special police officers, and the same to remove at pleasure, who, when appointed, shall within any office of a corporation and within five hundred feet therefrom be vested with the powers of peace officers, as set forth in § 2.20 of the criminal procedure law, whose duty, when appointed, shall be to preserve order within and around the offices of said corporation, to protect the property within, to eject or arrest all persons who shall be improperly within the office of such corporation or who shall be guilty of disorderly conduct, or who shall neglect or refuse to observe the rules prescribed by said corporation; and it shall be the further duty of said police officers, when appointed to prevent all violations of law with reference to pool-selling, bookmaking and other gambling and all violations of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to sections two hundred twenty-two through seven hundred five of this chapter having the force of law and to arrest any and all persons violating such provisions, and to convey such person or persons so arrested, with a statement of the cause of such arrest, before a magistrate having jurisdiction of such offense, to be dealt with according to law. The appointment of special police officers in pursuance of this section shall not be deemed to supersede in any way the authority of peace officers or police officers of the jurisdiction within which the offices of the corporation are located.

2. Any appointment of a special police officer under this section, shall be made only with the approval of the commission. Application for such approval shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the commission and shall contain such other information or material or evidence as the commission requires. In acting on an application for such approval the commission shall consider the background, experience, integrity, and competence of the candidate for appointment, the public interest, convenience or necessity and the interests of legalized wagering generally. The commission in its discretion may set the term of any such appointment, terminate any existing appointment at any time and prescribe conditions and rules for the conduct of such office.