1.Â
Organization: There shall be a Police Department, the head of which
shall be a Chief of Police. In addition to Chief of Police there shall
be such other Subordinate Officers and Patrol Officers as shall from
time to time be determined by the Council. Said Chief, Subordinate
Officers and Patrol Officers, subject to such probationary requirements
as may hereinafter be set forth, shall constitute the permanent Police
Department of the Town.
2.Â
Qualifications: The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Council
and shall have at least five years' experience above the rank of Patrol
Officer in any organized Police Department and have expertise in the
organization, administration, management and direction of police personnel
and shall possess such other qualifications as the Council may prescribe
by Ordinance.
All police officers below the rank of Chief shall be appointed
or promoted as the case may be by the Council upon recommendation
by the Chief of Police, provided that they shall have satisfactorily
passed such qualifying tests as the State may require concerning standards
and training for police officers and such other qualifying tests as
the Chief of Police and/or the Council may require by Ordinance. All
members of the force shall, at the time of their permanent appointment,
have served for a period of not less than one year in a probationary
status after completion of the required training during which period
they may be removed at any time by the Council upon recommendation
of the Chief of Police, with or without cause.
3.Â
Powers and Duties: 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 and
the enforcement of the statutes of the State and the Ordinances of
the Town. The Police Department shall also be responsible for assisting
other Town Departments and Officials in the performance of their duties
where required.
4.Â
In addition to the members of the permanent police force of said
Town, the Town Council, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police,
may from time to time appoint reserve police officers for occasional
service and for limited terms, none of which shall exceed one year.
Said reserve police officers shall receive such compensation as shall
from time to time be fixed by the Town Council within the limits of
the appropriations currently available for such purposes.
Prior to their appointment as reserve police officers, they
shall have passed such qualifying tests as the Town Council shall
require by ordinance: furthermore, they shall attend and successfully
complete the State certified school given for reserve police officers;
and furthermore they shall undergo the State psychiatric examination
required for all police officers. Only those reserve police officers
that have been certified as qualified shall carry firearms. Reserve
police officers may be re-certified or re-appointed by the Town Council,
again for the maximum of one year. They may be removed by the Town
Council at any time with or without cause.
There shall be no Constable appointments by the Town Council.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
There shall be one or more Animal Control Officers appointed
by the Council, to serve at the pleasure of the Council, who shall
be responsible for the supervision and enforcement of Laws and Ordinances
pertaining to dogs and other animals, and who shall have such other
powers and duties as are prescribed by Law or Ordinance. The Animal
Control Officer(s) shall receive such compensation as the Council
may fix, within the limits of the amount appropriated in the budget
voted on at the Financial Town Referendum. The Council shall appoint
one or more appraisers of dog damage, one of whom may be an Animal
Control Officer, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Council and
who shall have such powers and duties as are prescribed by Law or
Ordinance.
[Amended 11/4/2014]
Authorization: In the event any of the legislatively created
fire districts are no longer able to provide adequate fire protection
and/or emergency medical services, the Council may by Ordinance, and
subject to approval at a Financial Town Referendum, create a Fire
Department and/or emergency medical services.
[Amended 11-4-2008; 11/4/2014]
There shall be a Director of Emergency Management appointed
by the Council who shall:
1.Â
Prepare a Comprehensive Plan for the utilization of Town facilities,
equipment and personnel during any emergency.
2.Â
Assist the Council in any declared emergency.
3.Â
Be the liaison with the State Office of Emergency Management and
the State Health Department.
4.Â
Perform any other duties or functions as the Council may direct by
ordinance or during any emergency as the Council President may direct.
5.Â
Be a qualified elector of the Town.
