[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 27, Fire Department, and Ch. 74, Police Department.
There are hereby established a Police Department and a Fire Department for the Borough of Norristown, which shall be part of the Department of Public Safety and under the supervision of the Director of Public Safety.
A. 
Personnel. The Police Department shall consist of a Chief and as many other police officers of various ranks as the Borough Council from time to time authorizes. The Chief of Police shall be the chief executive officer of the Police Department and, subject to the direction of the Director of Public Safety, shall be responsible for the supervision, training and day-to-day operation of the Police Department.
B. 
Appointments and promotions.
(1) 
Except for the position of Chief of Police, all appointments to and promotions for the Police Department shall be made in accordance with borough ordinances and the rules and regulations of the Borough Civil Service Commission.
[Amended 7-1-2014 by Ord. No. 14-08; 8-19-2014 by Ord. No. 14-12]
(2) 
When there is a vacancy in the office of the Chief of Police, the Mayor shall have the authority to appoint a duly qualified person to the position of Chief of Police, subject to confirmation by the Civil Service Commission that such person is duly qualified for the position of Chief of Police.
C. 
Powers and duties. Duly appointed police personnel shall have the powers and duties conferred by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the legislative enactments of the Borough Council and the directions of the supervising officers of the Police Department. The Chief of Police shall from time to time promulgate such rules, regulations and/or orders that he deems necessary for the orderly operation of the Department.
D. 
Compensation and benefits. Members of the Police Department shall receive such compensation and benefits as from time to time achieved through collective bargaining procedures and/or compulsory arbitration.
E. 
Suspension and removal. The Chief of Police shall have the power to suspend any police officer for due cause without pay for a period not to exceed 30 days. The Chief of Police, with the approval of the Director of Public Safety, shall have the power to suspend any police officer for a period not to exceed one year without pay and/or to reduce in rank or discharge the officer for due cause.
F. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DUE CAUSE
(1) 
Physical or mental disability affecting the officer's ability to continue in service.
(2) 
Neglect or violation of any official duty.
(3) 
Violation of any law which constitutes a misdemeanor or felony.
(4) 
Inefficiency, neglect, drug abuse, drinking on duty, intemperance, disobedience of orders or conduct unbecoming an officer.
(5) 
Except for the exercise of suffrage rights, engaging in political activity.
POLICE OFFICER
Any member of the Police Department.
G. 
A person suspended, reduced in rank or discharged shall have a right to appeal such action to the Civil Service Commission as provided herein.
H. 
If, for the purposes of economy or other reasons, the Borough Council, by legislative action, deems it necessary to reduce the number of paid employees of the Department, the reduction shall be effected by furloughing in numerical order the person or persons with the least seniority. In the event that persons are to be hired for the Department, the furloughed persons shall be reinstated in order of their seniority and service.
A. 
Personnel. The Fire Department shall consist of a Chief and as many other fire officers as the Borough Council from time to time authorizes. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be the chief executive officer of the Fire Department and, subject to the direction of the Director of Public Safety, shall be responsible for the supervision, training and day-to-day operation of the Fire Department. The rules and regulations set forth herein shall apply only to paid fire personnel and shall not apply to volunteer fire fighters.
B. 
Appointment and promotions.
(1) 
Except for the positions of Chief of Fire, Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Marshal, all appointments and promotions for the Fire Department shall be in accordance with the borough ordinances and the rules and regulations of the Borough Civil Service Commission.
(2) 
The positions of Chief of Fire, Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Marshal shall not be civil service positions.
(3) 
The term for the position of Fire Chief shall be for one year and shall be filled by appointment by the Mayor with advice from the presidents of the various volunteer fire companies.
(4) 
The positions of Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Marshal shall be at-will employee positions with appointment pursuant to the other relevant chapters of the General Laws of Norristown.
C. 
Powers and duties. Duly appointed paid and volunteer members of the Fire Department shall have the powers and duties conferred by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the legislative enactments of the Borough Council and the directions of the supervising officers of the Fire Department.
D. 
Compensation and benefits. Except for the Chief of the Fire Department, the Fire Marshals and the Assistant Fire Marshals, all paid fire personnel employed through civil service procedures shall receive such compensation and benefits as from time to time achieved through collective bargaining procedures and/or compulsory arbitration.
(1) 
The compensation for the Fire Chief, Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Marshals shall be set by the Borough Council.
(2) 
Volunteer firemen shall be recruited by the various fire houses in the borough and shall not be considered borough employees. Volunteer firemen shall be under the control of the fire house officers and shall receive no compensation for services from the borough.
E. 
Suspension and removal of paid fire personnel.
(1) 
The Chief of Fire shall have the power to suspend any fire personnel for due cause without pay for a period not to exceed 30 days. The Chief of Fire, with the approval of the Director of Public Safety shall have the power to suspend any fire personnel not to exceed one year without pay and/or reduce in rank or discharge an officer for due cause.
(2) 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
DUE CAUSE
(a) 
Physical or mental disability affecting the officer's ability to continue in service.
(b) 
Neglect or violation of any official duty.
(c) 
Violation of any law which constitutes a misdemeanor or felony.
(d) 
Inefficiency, neglect, drug abuse, drinking on duty, intemperance, disobedience of orders or conduct unbecoming an officer.
(e) 
Except for the exercise of suffrage rights, engaging in political activity.
FIRE PERSONNEL
Any paid member of the Fire Department appointed through the civil service procedures.
(3) 
A person suspended, reduced in rank or discharged shall have a right to appeal such action to the Civil Service Commission as provided herein.
(4) 
If, for purposes of economy or other reasons, the Borough Council, by legislative action, deems it necessary to reduce the number of paid employees of the Department, the reduction shall be effected by furloughing in numerical order the person or persons with the least seniority. In the event that persons are to be hired for the Department, the furloughed persons shall be reinstated in order of their seniority and service.
F. 
Volunteer firemen.
(1) 
Except at the scene of a fire, volunteer firemen shall be under the supervision and control of the officers of the fire house where the person is a member. For activities not connected with duties at the scene of a fire or going to a fire, volunteer firemen shall be under the supervision and discipline of the fire house officers.
(2) 
At the scene of a fire, volunteer firemen shall take orders and be under the control and discipline of the Fire Chief and his assistants.