[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Easton 3-25-1980 as Title IVA of the 1980 Code of Ordinances; amended 9-24-1990; 10-21-1992; 12-16-2002. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
There shall continue to be a Board of Police Commissioners (the "Board"). The Board shall consist of five resident electors of the Town of Easton appointed by the Board of Selectmen. At no time shall more than four Police Commissioners be members of the same political party.
A. 
The Board shall elect one of its members to serve as Chair and one of its members to serve as Clerk and shall hold regular meetings and keep records of the same. Meetings of the Board shall be called by the Chair or by a majority of the Board, and a majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
B. 
In the month of September of each year, the Board shall make an annual report to the Selectmen which shall be included with and published by the Selectmen in the annual report of the Town.
C. 
All vacancies occurring in the membership of the Board shall be filled by the Board of Selectmen, and the Board of Selectmen may remove any Commissioner for cause in accordance with ordinances of the Town of Easton.
The Board shall have all powers of boards of police commissioners pursuant to § 7-276 of the Connecticut General Statutes, as it may be amended from time to time, and shall maintain, control and manage the Police Department of the Town. Pursuant to such powers, it shall:
A. 
From time to time, fix the number of members of the Police Department and designate one who shall be Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall be the chief administrative officer of the Board and shall be responsible to the Board for the efficiency of the Department and for the execution of all laws, rules and regulations prescribed by state statute, the ordinances of the Town or the Board.
B. 
From time to time, appoint such police officers as may be required, and such police officers, when so appointed, shall have all such authority with respect to the service of criminal process and enforcement of criminal laws as is vested by the state statutes in police officers. The police officers shall receive a salary, and no officer shall receive fees for service in any criminal matter except his salary as fixed by the Town. All fees for services rendered by any officer in any criminal matter in the Town shall be paid to the Treasurer of the Town and deposited in the general fund. The Board may prescribe the duties of police officers, whether regular or supernumerary. The Board shall make such rules and regulations governing the Police Department as it may, from time to time, deem necessary and consistent with the provisions of this chapter. Any such person appointed as a police officer by the Board, under the provisions of this chapter, shall remain in office during good behavior and until removed for cause by the Board. The Board may remove, suspend or discipline, in accordance with the state statutes and any applicable collective bargaining agreement or contract and in such manner as the Board may prescribe, any police officer, provided that the charge against such officer shall have been filed in writing with the Board and the officer so charged shall have had ample opportunity to appear before the Board to be heard and answer to the charge.
C. 
Have control and management of all apparatus, equipment and buildings owned and used by the Town for the purposes of the Police Department and, subject to the approval of the Board of Selectmen and in accordance with the ordinances of the Town of Easton and funding pursuant to the General Statutes, purchase all equipment for the Police Department and prepare an annual budget and submit the same to the Board of Finance.
D. 
Be the sole and exclusive traffic authority under the provisions of § 14-297 of the General Statutes, as it may be amended from time to time, for and within the limits of the Town.
The Chief of the Police Department shall serve in office during good behavior and until removed for cause by the Board, and prior to dismissal he shall be entitled to the notice, hearing and appeal required by § 7-278 of the General Statutes as it may be amended from time to time.
Members of the Board of Police Commissioners shall be appointed for three-year terms.