It is the purpose of this chapter to promote the public health, safety
and welfare in the Town of Dover by maintaining a constabulary who shall serve
under the supervision of the Town Board.
The Town Board shall each year designate one of its members to serve
as liaison between said Board and the Town Constables. The liaison shall be
conferred with the authority to direct the Constables in the performance of
their duties and shall confer with the Constables concerning their activity
and shall report the same to the Town Board.
No Town Constable shall issue appearance tickets for either Vehicle
and Traffic Law or Penal Law offenses nor carry a weapon of any kind unless
having peace officer status as defined by Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10,
Subdivision 1, by having attended the minimum training requirements necessary
for that purpose as sponsored by the Bureau of Municipal Police Training.
The duties of the Town Constables shall be limited to the following
functions:
A. To control crowds at any public function within the Town
of Dover.
B. To patrol the streets, to check windows and doors of
buildings so as to maintain security and report to the New York State Police
or Dutchess County Sheriff any observations concerning possible criminal activity.
C. To attend proceedings of the Justice Court so as to maintain
order, assist the Justices and those who have business before the court.
D. To attend meetings at the Town Hall as necessary to maintain
order and to remove disorderly persons from such meetings.
E. To direct traffic and to assist, as is necessary, with
directing both pedestrian and vehicular activity at school crossings and to
issue appearance tickets to persons suspected of violating local laws, ordinances
or regulations of the Town of Dover relating to parking; provided, however,
that any Constable issuing said appearance tickets shall have achieved peace
officer status as set forth above.
F. To serve legal papers on behalf of the Town Board.
No Town Constable shall carry a weapon in the discharge of his or her
duties, except that a Constable who has achieved peace officer status may
carry a baton. No Constable shall carry a firearm, except that a Town Constable
who has been approved by the Town Board after having achieved peace officer
status and having obtained a license to possess a firearm in this state may
carry a weapon while attending functions of the Justice Court.