[Ord. 56, 2/24/1972, § 1; as amended by Ord. 92,
6/2/1977; by Ord. 127, 5/20/1982; by Ord. 95-255, 10/26/1995; by Ord.
96-259, 1/4/1996, § 1; by Ord. 2005-362, 12/15/2005; and
by Ord. 2014-449, 10/2/2014]
1. There is hereby created within the Township of Cranberry, Butler
County, Pennsylvania, a permanent police force to consist of a Chief
of Police and any number of full-time or part-time officers or patrol
officers as the Township Board of Supervisors may by resolution deem
appropriate with such ranks as the Board of Supervisors deems appropriate.
2. Police officers hold the rank of Lieutenant, Sergeant, Corporal or
patrol officer. The Board of Supervisors may from time to time establish
or eliminate by resolution specific ranks within the Police Department.
3. When vacancies occur within the ranks, below the rank of Chief of
Police, the Chief of Police and Township Manager or the Manager's
designee shall nominate to the Board of Supervisors a candidate to
fill a vacancy.
[Added by Ord. 127, 5/20/1982; as amended by Ord. 95-255,
10/26/1995; by Ord. 96-259, 1/4/1996, § 2; by Ord. 2005-362,
12/15/2005; and by Ord. 2014-449, 10/2/2014]
1. Chief of Police. The Township Manager may nominate, subject to the
ratification of the Board of Supervisors, one person to serve as Chief
of Police. The Chief of Police shall report directly to the Township
Manager or the Manager's designee.
2. Ranks Below Chief. All ranks below Chief shall report directly to
the Chief of Police or the Chief's designee.
3. Police Officers. All officers not filling a position of Chief of
Police, Lieutenant, Sergeant, or Corporal shall be patrol officers.
Patrol officers will be supervised by their designated superior in
the chain of command and shall be subject to the authority of all
of the higher-ranking officers in the police force and the Chief of
Police.
[Ord. 56, 2/24/1972, § 2; as amended by Ord. 92,
6/2/1977; by Ord. 127, 5/20/1982; by Ord. 95-255, 10/26/1995; by Ord.
96-259, 1/4/1996, § 3; by Ord. 2005-362, 12/15/2005; and
by Ord. 2014-449, 10/2/2014]
1. Probation Policies.
A. Lieutenant. Lieutenants of the police force, immediately after their
appointment, shall serve a probationary period of not less than six
months, but not more than one year. At the end of the probationary
period, the Chief of Police and the Township Manager, or the Manager's
designee, shall review the performance of each Lieutenant and at that
time shall make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to make
such appointment permanent, offer him or her a lesser position, demote
him or her to a lower rank or discharge him or her from further service
in the Township.
B. Sergeant. Sergeants of the police force, immediately after their
appointment, shall serve a probationary period of not less than six
months, but not more than one year. At the end of the probationary
period, the Chief of Police and the Township Manager, or the Manager's
Designee, shall review the performance of each Sergeant and at that
time shall make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to make
such appointment permanent, offer him or her a lesser position, demote
him or her to a lower rank or discharge him or her from further service
in the Township.
C. Corporal. Corporals of the police force, immediately after their
appointment, shall serve a probationary period of not less than six
months, but not more than one year. At the end of the probationary
period, the Chief of Police and the Township Manager, or the Manager's
Designee, shall review the performance of each Corporal and at that
time shall make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to make
such appointment permanent, offer him or her a lesser position, demote
him or her to a lower rank or discharge him or her from further service
in the Township.
2. Promotion. In the event that any position is filled by promotion,
then such appointee shall serve a period of probation in that position
of not less than six months, but not more than one year. However,
at the end of that period, the Chief of Police and the Township Manager,
or the Manager's designee, shall review the performance of the
appointee during such probationary period and at that time shall make
a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to make such appointment
permanent or return him or her to such position from which he or she
was promoted.
[Ord. 56, 2/24/1972, § 3; as amended by Ord. 92,
6/2/1977; by Ord. 2005-362, 12/15/2005; and by Ord. 2014-449, 10/2/2014]
The Board of Supervisors shall appoint all patrol officers.
Each patrol officer, immediately after such appointment, shall serve
a probationary period of no less than six months, but no more than
one year. At the end of such probationary period, the Chief of Police
and the Township Manager, or the Manager's designee, shall review
the performance of the patrol officer during such probationary period
and at that time shall make a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors
to make such appointment permanent or discharge him or her from further
service.
[Ord. 56, 2/24/1972, § 9; as amended by Ord. 2014-449,
10/2/2014]
Any payments made on account of police pensions shall be a charge
on no fund in the treasury of the Township or under its control other
than the Police Pension Fund.
[Ord. 56, 2/24/1972, § 10; as amended by Ord. 2014-449,
10/2/2014]
1. No person employed as a regular full-time police officer in the Cranberry
Township Police Department, with the exception of police officers
appointed for a probationary period of one year or less, shall be
suspended, removed or reduced in rank except for the following reasons:
A. Physical or mental disability affecting the officer's ability
to continue in service, in which case the person shall receive an
honorable discharge from service.
B. Neglect or violation of any official duty.
C. Violating any law which provides that such violation constitutes
a misdemeanor or felony.
D. Inefficiency, neglect, intemperance, disobedience of orders or conduct
unbecoming an officer.
E. Intoxication while on duty.
2. A person so employed shall not be removed for religious, racial or
political reasons.
3. A written statement of any charges made against any person so employed
shall be furnished to such person within five days after the same
are filed.
[Ord. 56, 2/24/1972, § 11; as amended by Ord. 2014-449,
10/2/2014]
1. In the event that the Township is compelled to bring suspension or
removal proceedings against any police officer, the Township will
comply with all applicable hearing procedures and timelines set forth
in the Second Class Township Code and the Police Tenure Act.
[Ord. 56, 2/24/1972, § 12; as amended by Ord. 2005-362,
12/15/2005; and by Ord. 2014-449, 10/2/2014]
The suspended or dismissed employee shall have the right to
appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Butler County.