When FV and I were discussing this yesterday, a statement was made that watch participants were not to be armed. I questioned if that was a law or just a policy suggestion.
Your info further clarifies that there is indeed no law against carrying while on watch, its only a "matter of policy" as I suspected would be the case.
Is a matter of policy is the same as a violation of protocols?
It is not a "law" but it is 100% clear: patrol members are not carry weapons, have no police power, and should not attempt to apprehend a person committing a crime or to investigate a suspicious activity. Not following the guidelines can result in serious consequences: each member is liable as an individual for civil and criminal charges should he exceed his authority.