There shall be a Department of Public Safety which shall be
headed by the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall include the
Bureau of Police and the Bureau of Fire.
The powers and duties connected with and incident to the control,
government and discipline of the Police Bureau, its members and employees,
except as herein otherwise provided, shall be vested in and exercised
by the Commissioner of Public Safety. The Police Bureau shall consist
of the Commissioner of Public Safety, a Chief of Police and such other
officers and personnel as authorized by the Common Council. The Bureau
shall be organized into such divisions as the Commissioner of Public
Safety shall prescribe. The Bureau shall have jurisdiction, supervision
and control of all functions and duties customarily performed by a
Police Bureau. The Commissioner of Public Safety may, upon an emergency
or for any special purpose, with the approval of the Common Council,
appoint extra and additional patrolmen and policemen, their compensation
and term of service to be fixed by the Commissioner subject to the
approval of the Common Council.
The Commissioner shall be responsible for the control of traffic,
traffic and parking regulations, location of traffic control signs,
signals and devices, the location of parking meters and such other
duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to him by the Common
Council.
The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Commissioner of
Public Safety and shall be directly responsible to him. The position
of Chief of Police shall be in the competitive class of the classified
service and appointment shall be made in accordance with the Civil
Service Law. The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Bureau of
Police, subject to the authority of the Commissioner of Public Safety,
and shall be in direct command and shall assign all members of the
Bureau to their respective posts, shifts, details and duties. He shall
make rules and regulations concerning the operation of the Bureau
and the conduct, duties and assignments of all officers and employees,
which rules shall be approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
The Police Chief shall have such other powers and perform such other
duties as may be assigned to him by the Commissioner.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall appoint all officers
and employees of the Police Bureau in accordance with the provisions
of the Civil Service Law.
The Bureau of Fire shall consist of the Commissioner of Public
Safety, a Fire Chief and such other officers and employees as may
be authorized by the Common Council. The Bureau shall be organized
in such a manner as the Commissioner of Public Safety shall prescribe.
The Bureau shall have the duty to extinguish fires any place within
the corporate tax district and special fire districts created in the
outside district; shall investigate the cause, circumstances and origin
of fires; shall engage in fire-protection activities and the suppression
of arson; shall enforce the City housing and other codes as prescribed
by City ordinance; shall provide Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
any place within the corporate tax district and special fire districts
created in the outside district; and shall have all powers necessary
for the performance of its duties.
[1]
Editor’s Note: This local law provided an effective
date of 1-1-2016.
The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public
Safety and be directly responsible to him. The position of Fire Chief
shall be in the competitive class of the classified service and appointment
shall be made in accordance with the Civil Service Law. The Fire Chief
shall be in direct command of the Bureau of Fire, subject to the authority
of the Commissioner of Public Safety, and shall assign all members
of the Bureau to their respective posts and duties. The Fire Chief
shall have control, management and supervision of the personnel of
the Fire Bureau and all property and equipment of the Bureau, subject
nevertheless to the authority of the Commissioner of Public Safety.
He shall make rules and regulations concerning the operation of the
Bureau and the conduct of the officers and employees, which rules
shall be approved by the Commissioner of Public Safety. He shall be
responsible for the efficiency, discipline and good conduct of the
Bureau. The Fire Chief shall have such other powers and perform such
other duties as may be assigned to him by the Commissioner.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall appoint all officers
and employees of the Bureau of Fire in accordance with the provisions
of the Civil Service Law.
