[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Kings Point 12-20-1978 by L.L. No. 2-1978. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
It is essential to good government in the Village
of Kings Point, to the protection of its inhabitants and of property
within the Village, to the preservation of peace and good order, to
the suppression of vice, to the protection and preservation of public
works and of the general safety, health, comfort and welfare of the
inhabitants of the Village that police protection be maintained at
a high standard of excellence throughout the Village. The Village
has long maintained its own Police Department, deeming that such ends
are thereby better served.
B.
In carrying out its assigned task, it is essential
that the Village Police Department utilize the services of the Police
Department of the County of Nassau to support and supplement the services
and protection provided by the Village Police Department, and it is
acknowledged that without such support and supplementation, the Village
Police Department would not be able to provide the broad spectrum
of police services required for Village purposes.
C.
The proper functioning of government requires that
the Police Department of the Village be operated in the most efficient
manner possible. Efficiency of operation includes the cost of operations
as well as the need to update operations to keep pace with modern
methods, to incorporate modern concepts and procedures and to coordinate
them in close cooperation with the Police Department of the county.
Because of the relatively small size of the Village Police Department,
it is not always possible to achieve the economies of scale enjoyed
by a large department nor to exercise the same degree of flexibility
in the assignment and utilization of personnel enjoyed by a large
department. These and other factors, such as the significant and rapid
increase in operating costs stemming in large part from increases
in the wage levels of police personnel, have emphasized the urgency
of the need for the adoption of modern methods. The close balancing
of needs with costs has become increasingly apparent to the Board
of Trustees.
D.
To ensure the provision of police protection needed,
to promote the general welfare of the Village, to achieve the economies
needed to justify the continuation of a Police Department operated
by the Village, to further the modernization of its police methods
and concepts, to improve and continue the coordination of procedures
and methods of the Police Departments of the Village and the county,
it is necessary to establish a separate Board of Police Commissioners
to assist in the formulation of policy, to make recommendations as
to the means by which economies can be achieved and methods can be
improved and to ensure that any new policies formulated and new methods
are immediately carried out and employed.
[Amended 5-23-1979 by L.L. No. 2-1979; 7-19-1982 by L.L. No.
5-1982; 6-15-2021 by L.L. No. 13-2021; 4-27-2022 by L.L. No. 7-2022]
[Amended 5-23-1979 by L.L. No. 2-1979; 4-27-2022 by L.L. No. 7-2022]
A.
The Commissioners shall be appointed by the Mayor
of the Village, which appointment shall be approved by the Board of
Trustees in accordance with the provisions of the Village Law.
B.
Not less than one Commissioner shall be a member of
the Board of Trustees.
C.
Notwithstanding
the provisions of the Village Law, two of the Commissioners may reside
within the County of Nassau, New York, even though such residence
is outside the corporate limits of the Village, if such person has
either:
[Amended 4-27-2022 by L.L. No. 7-2022]
A.
The terms of office of two of the Commissioners shall
be for five years, and those Commissioners, at least one of whom shall
be a member of the Board of Trustees, shall serve without compensation.
B.
The term of office of the other Commissioner shall
be for a term of two years and shall be compensated as determined
from time to time by the Board of Trustees.
A.
The Board of Police Commissioners is hereby authorized
and empowered:
(1)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Village Law §§ 8-800
and 8-804, to promulgate rules and regulations governing the operation
of the Police Department of the Village and to recommend such other
rules and regulations applicable to other departments as shall be
necessary or desirable for the public safety and welfare, subject
however, to the prior approval of the Mayor and Board of Trustees
of any such rules and regulations.
(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of Village Law § 8-804,
to supervise, control and direct the conduct of the members of the
Police Department of the Village and all matters relative to the operation
of such Department, including the appointment, promotion, change in
status and removal of said members.
(3)
To prepare and submit from time to time fiscal reports
relative to the operation of the Police Department and to recommend
to the Mayor and the Board of Trustees such changes in the methods,
practices and procedures involved in the operation of the Department
and in the procurement of equipment necessary or desirable to promote
modernization of the Department, all consistent with its efficient
operation.
(4)
To promote cooperation between the Police Department
of the Village and that of the County of Nassau, looking to better
and greater utilization of county-provided services and methods so
as to eliminate any unnecessary and duplicative services provided
by the Village and to bring into conformity, to the extent reasonably
possible, the practices of the Police Department of the county and
the Village; to remain abreast of modern day developments in the area
of law enforcement in the United States, to recommend the introduction
of changes of methods, procedures and equipment and to seek out federal
and state funds which may be used by the Village to improve police
procedures and operations within the Village.
B.
The Mayor shall have the right to delegate to the
Board of Police Commissioners and the Chairman thereof such other
powers of the Mayor as set forth in Village Law § 4-400,
Subdivision 1b and e, such other powers as may be deemed necessary
or desirable to enable the Board of Police Commissioners effectively
to discharge the duties above set forth; provided, however, that any
such delegation of powers shall not in any way relieve or absolve
the Mayor from the responsibility to supervise the proper discharge
by the Board of Police Commissioners and the Chairman thereof of all
of the obligations placed upon the Mayor by the Village Law.
[1]
Editor's Note: This amendment passed at referendum
6-16-1981.
[Added 4-14-1981 by L.L. No. 5-1981]
A.
The Chairman of the Board of Commissioners shall preside
at the meetings of the Board of Commissioners.
B.
A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business, but a lesser number may adjourn.
C.
No action may be taken except by a concurring vote
of a majority of the Board.
[Added 4-14-1981 by L.L. No. 5-1981]
The duties of the Chairman shall be:
A.
To preside at the meetings of the Board of Commissioners,
and he may have a vote upon all matters and questions coming before
the Board, and he shall vote in case of a tie. However, on all matters
and questions, he shall vote only in his capacity as Chairman, and
his vote shall be considered as one vote.
B.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Village Law § 4-400;
Subdivision 1e, to supervise, control and direct the day-to-day conduct
of the members of the Police Department of the Village and all other
routine matters relative to the operation of such Department between
Board meetings.
C.
To act as liaison on a routine basis on behalf of
the Police Department of the Village with the County of Nassau.
