New York Consolidated Laws, Town Law - TWN § 151. Qualifications

No person shall be eligible to appointment or reappointment to such police department, nor continue as a member thereof, who shall not be a citizen of the United States, who has been convicted of a felony, who shall be unable to read and write understandingly the English language or who shall not reside within the state of New York and in any town or village in the county in which such town is situated at the time of his or her appointment.