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.
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.