[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 1-7-1963 by resolution]
There is hereby established a Police Department for the Town of Tuxedo to be known as and by the name of the "Town of Tuxedo Police Department."
A. 
The Town Board shall appoint a Chief of Police and such other officers and policemen as may be needed from time to time in accordance with and pursuant to the Rules of the Orange County Civil Service Commission.
B. 
The compensation of such Chief of Police, officers and policemen shall be a charge.
The Town Board shall pay all or part of the cost of uniforms and necessary equipment of its policemen as it may determine and may purchase, rent or lease such equipment and office or other space for use by the Police Department as it shall from time to time deem necessary, including police patrol vehicles and emergency service vehicles for police use in connection with accidents, public calamities or other emergencies.
[Adopted 1-28-2019 by L.L. No. 1-2019]
Pursuant to §§ 154 and 155 of the New York State Town Law, the Town Board of the Town of Tuxedo is empowered to adopt and make rules and regulations for the examination, hearing, investigation and determination of the charges made or preferred against any member or members of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department. The New York Court of Appeals has determined that Town Boards may not relinquish or "bargain away" to members, or their collective bargaining representatives, the statutorily delegated power of municipal boards to impose disciplinary measures on members of the local police department. This article is enacted in order to comply with and conform to the provisions of §§ 154 and 155 of the Town Law, the public policy of the State of New York, and Court of Appeals case law, and provides that the Town Board, not the Town Supervisor or any other third party, shall make all final determinations concerning the investigation of complaints and imposition of disciplinary penalties with respect to members of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department.
The investigation of complaints concerning allegations of misconduct against any member of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department shall be investigated by the Town Supervisor or the Town Supervisor's designee.
The Town Supervisor shall, upon a determination that a complaint against a member of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department is substantiated, prepare and serve a notice of discipline upon the member of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department.
Within 14 days of the service of a notice of discipline upon a member of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department, the Town Supervisor or the Town Supervisor's designee shall conduct a meeting with the member to discuss the charges alleged in the notice, as well as to discuss a proposed resolution of the charges. If, after the disciplinary interview, the Town Supervisor determines that the imposition of a disciplinary penalty is required, the Town Supervisor shall issue and serve a written decision upon the member informing them of the Town Supervisor's determination. The Town Supervisor shall provide a copy of the Town Supervisor's decision to the Town Board. Upon the issuance of the Town Supervisor's decision, the Town Supervisor shall refer the notice of discipline to the Town Board for a determination of the charges.
Within 14 days of the member receiving the Town Supervisor's decision that imposition of a disciplinary penalty is required, the member may request a hearing on the charges by having a written demand for a hearing served upon the Town Supervisor. Within 45 days of the Town Supervisor's receipt of a member's written demand for a hearing, the Town Board shall do one of the following:
A. 
Designate a Town Board member to sit as a trier of fact to determine the charges filed against the member of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department; or
B. 
Select a hearing officer to sit as a trier of fact to determine the charges filed against the member of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department.
The hearing officer or Town Board member selected to hear and determine the charges shall conduct a hearing and shall issue a decision containing recommended findings of fact and a recommended disciplinary penalty, if applicable, to the Town Board. Said decision shall be reviewed by the Town Board, and, after its review, the Town Board may accept or reject, in whole or in part, the recommended findings of fact and/or the recommended disciplinary penalty, if applicable. The Town Board shall make a final determination of the charges alleged in the notice of discipline and, where applicable, shall impose any penalty consistent with the provisions of the New York State Town Law, or any other penalty agreed to between the Town Board and the respondent member. The Town Supervisor shall not participate in or vote upon the Town Board's acceptance or rejection of the hearing officer's recommended findings of fact or recommended penalty, or the Town Board's final determination of the charges.
In accordance with Town Law § 155, the determination of the Town Board shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court in the judicial district in which the Town is located in the manner provided for by Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, provided that the proceeding is commenced within 30 days from the date of the Town Board's determination.
Any member that is served with a notice of discipline may have a representative or legal counsel represent him or her in connection with any proceedings provided for by this article. The hearing of the charges alleged in the notice of discipline shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Town Law § 155, and such hearing shall be transcribed by a stenographer. A copy of the transcript of the proceedings shall be provided to the member free of charge.
The Town Supervisor is hereby directed to take all necessary steps to implement the provisions of this article, and to provide notice of the same to the members of the Town of Tuxedo Police Department.