[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Freedom 11-8-2006 by Ord. No. 544. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby established a Police Department for the Borough which shall consist of the Chief of Police and part-time policemen and such other members as may be provided for by Council and/or the Mayor as provided by law. Council is hereby authorized at any later date to establish the rank of one Captain, two Lieutenants, three Sergeants and any other classification desired by Council, and Council may, subject to the civil service provisions of the Borough Code, designate the individuals assigned to each office.
The Chief of Police shall be appointed by Council. All other appointments to or promotions within the Police Department shall be made as provided by law.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Department and shall have supervisory power over all officers and members thereof. The Chief shall be directly responsible to the Mayor, who shall have full charge and control of the Chief and also, should he desire, over the entire police force. Following the Chief in rank shall be such other officers as may be appointed by Council, as provided by law, and policemen in order of seniority in each group.
The Chief shall be the keeper of the Borough jail, if such exists, and shall have custody of all persons incarcerated therein. He shall keep such records and make such reports concerning the activities of the Police Department as may be required by law. The Chief shall be responsible for the performance by the Department of its functions, and all members of the Department shall serve subject to the orders of the Chief.
It shall be the duty of the policemen members of the Police Department to enforce all ordinances of the Borough and all statutes applicable therein, and to preserve order, prevent infractions of the law and arrest violators thereof.
Policemen are hereby authorized to serve and execute all process for violation of Borough ordinances which may be issued by the Mayor; provided, however, that no member of the Police Department shall so serve process except upon the command of the Chief of Police and/or the Mayor.
Every member of the Police Department shall conduct himself or herself in a proper and law-abiding manner at all times and shall avoid the use of unnecessary force. Each member of the Department shall obey the orders and directions of his or her superior.
The Chief of Police and/or the Mayor may make or prescribe such rules and regulations as may be deemed advisable. Such rules and regulations, when approved by the Mayor and/or Council, shall be binding on all members of the Police Department. Such rules and regulations may cover, besides the conduct of the members, uniforms and equipment to be worn or carried, hours of service, vacations and all similar matters necessary or desirable for the better efficiency of the Department.
Any person of good character may be appointed a special policeman by the Mayor and/or Council; provided, however, those special policemen shall not be considered employees of the Borough by reason of such appointment. Special policemen shall obey rules of the Police Department applicable to them and may be deprived of their appointment by the Mayor and/or Council at any time.
The Chief of Police shall have the custody of all lost, abandoned or stolen property recovered in the Borough.
There is hereby established an auxiliary department to work with the policemen provided for in § 152-1. Such auxiliary department shall be designated as the Desk Division, whose members shall not be considered policemen as provided for in § 152-1 or as defined by the Borough Code and/or any and all other definitions of policemen. There may be four members of the Desk Division and these members shall not be considered within the policemen provided for in § 152-1. The duties of the members of the Desk Division shall be the recording of all incoming calls and/or complaints and such other duties as may be assigned by the Mayor and/or Chief of Police with the consent of the Mayor. With the approval and the consent of the Mayor and/or Council, the Chief may establish a traffic or detective division or other special division within the Police Department, assigning such regular policemen to such division and designating such duties therefor as may be deemed necessary.
The Chief of Police and/or the Mayor, for meritorious service rendered by any member of the Police Department in the due discharge of his/her duty, may permit such member to retain for his/her own benefit, so far as may be permitted by law, any reward tendered him/her therefor. It shall be cause for removal for any member of the Department to receive any such reward without first giving notice thereof to the Chief and/or Mayor and without first obtaining permission.
The Chief of Police shall serve for such term as may be provided by law and may be removed in the manner provided by law or contract. However, if any member of the Police Department having a rank under the civil service law is appointed Chief, upon the expiration of his term or the termination of his services, for any reason, he shall resume the status and rank he held before his appointment as Chief.
All full-time police officers of the Police Department, but not including part-time officers or the members of the Desk Division, shall be covered by the prevailing civil service laws if such is required by prevailing law.
On any shift which does not have a supervisory policeman scheduled to work, the senior patrolman shall be the officer in charge of the shift and shall be compensated for the shift at a rate of pay found appropriate by the Chief and Mayor, as recommended and with approval of Council.