[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Charlestown 1-9-1989
as Ch. 169.[1] Amendments note where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This chapter also repealed former Ch. 44, Police
Commission, adopted 8-14-1979 as Secs. 2-85 through 2-89 of the Code of Ordinances.
A.Â
There shall be a Police Department, the head of which
shall be a Chief of Police.
B.Â
There shall be such other subordinate officers and patrolmen
as shall, from time to time, be recommended by the Chief of Police to the
Town Administrator and approved by the Town Council. The Chief of Police,
subordinate officers and patrolmen, subject to any probationary requirements
as may be provided for by ordinance, shall constitute the permanent Police
Department of the town.
The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Town Council upon the
recommendation of the Town Administrator. He shall have a bachelor's
degree in police science or its equivalent, and shall have at least eight
(8) years of varied law enforcement experience, with five (5) years above
the rank of patrolman. He shall have expertise in the organization, administration
and management of police personnel, and shall possess such other qualifications
as the Council may prescribe by ordinance.
A.Â
All members of the police Department below the rank of
Chief shall be hired initially in probationary status by the Town Administrator
upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police, provided that they shall have
satisfactorily completed such qualifying tests as the Town Council may require.
They shall serve for a period of twelve (12) months in probationary status
before being eligible for promotion to permanent status.
B.Â
All police officers on the permanent Police Department
below the rank of Chief shall be appointed or promoted, as the case may be,
as provided by contractual agreement.
In addition to the members of the permanent police force of the town,
the Chief of Police, with the approval of the Town Administrator, may from
time to time appoint reserve police officers for occasional service and for
limited terms.
The Town Administrator, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police,
may appoint a Police Surgeon. He shall perform such duties, not inconsistent
with state law, as may be requested of him by the Chief of Police.
A.Â
The Police Department shall be responsible for the preservation
of the public peace, prevention of crime, apprehension of criminals, protection
of the rights of persons and property, regulation of traffic and the enforcement
of the laws of the state and the ordinances of the town, and rules and regulations
in accordance therewith. The Chief of Police and other members of the Department
shall have all the power and duties as are now or hereafter vested in police
officers by the laws of the state and the town ordinances.
B.Â
The Chief of Police shall be in direct command of the
police force and shall, subject to the approval of the Town Administrator
and the Town Council, administer rules and regulations as approved by the
Council concerning the conduct of all officers and subordinates. He shall
assign all subordinates to their respective posts, shifts, details and duties,
and shall be responsible for their training, efficiency, discipline and good
conduct. He shall also be responsible for all town property in his custody.
C.Â
No member of the Council and no member
of the administrative departments of the town shall interfere or attempt to
interfere, directly or indirectly, with the performance of duties by the Chief
of Police, provided nevertheless that nothing herein shall be construed to
prevent the Town Administrator from exercising general supervision over the
Police Department and its affairs, or to prevent the Council from making any
investigation of the Department authorized by the provisions of this ordinance.
