The Commissioner of Public Safety shall be responsible for the protection of City residents and their property from crime, fire, hazard, disorder, and natural disasters. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall have and exercise the duties, powers, and responsibilities enumerated in this Charter and the laws of New York State.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall be responsible for the overall operation of the several departments and functions, and such duties as the Council may prescribe by ordinance and local law:
A. Police Department. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall have jurisdiction, supervision, and control of the governance, administration, disposition, operation, and discipline of the Police Department and its officers in accordance with Section 6.1 of this Charter.
B. Fire Department. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall have jurisdiction, supervision, and control of the governance, administration, disposition, operation, and discipline of the Fire Department and its officers in accordance with Section 6.2 of this Charter.
C. Code Administrator. The Code Administrator shall be under the direction of the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall have authority to enforce and administer those provisions of the City's laws, codes, rules, and regulations specified in Chapter 8 of the City Code, together with such other authority as may be conferred on him or her under the laws of the State of New York.
D. Emergency Planning. The Commissioner of the Public Safety shall be responsible for development, management, administration, and implementation of an integrated public safety services program and its consequent plans in accordance with Section 6.3 of this Charter.
E. Health Officer. There shall be a Health Officer who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety. The Health Officer shall be a physician duly licensed to practice under the laws of the State of New York. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall ensure that the Health Officer performs duties as may be required by the provision of the laws of the State of New York and the ordinances of the City.
F. Animal Control Officer. There shall be an Animal Control Officer who shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall ensure that the Animal Control Officer performs duties as may be required by the provision of the laws of the State of New York and the ordinances of the City.
G. Public Safety facilities and equipment. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall be responsible for management and care of lands, buildings, equipment, and apparatus of the Police and Fire Departments and those of such other departments as may from time to time be vested in the Department of Public Safety by the Council.
H. Inventory. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall undertake and regularly update a comprehensive inventory of all City-owned lands, buildings, facilities, equipment, and appurtenances under the jurisdiction and control of the Department of Public Safety. The inventory shall include for each item:
Location.
Physical description.
Present condition and expected remaining life.
Current value and replacement costs.
Other useful information that may be required by the
Capital Program Committee.
The equipment lists shall be prioritized and the complete inventory shall be provided to the Capital Program committee in sufficient time for use in developing the City's six-year Capital Program and the ensuing year's Capital Budget.
On or before the first regularly scheduled Council meeting in March of each year, the Commissioner of Public Safety shall submit to the Council and make available to the public at the City Clerk's office, a written report on the operations of the Department of Public Safety and its several departments and functions for the previous year.
The Commissioner of Public Safety may lawfully delegate the above-cited powers, duties, and responsibilities. The Commissioner shall ensure that employees of the Department of Public Safety have appropriate skills, work experience, and education to perform professional-quality work. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall have immediate responsibility for administering and operating the Department of Public Safety and shall organize the Department to provide efficient, cost-effective services. All City departments and personnel shall provide the necessary data, assistance, and information required in the execution of these powers, duties, and responsibilities.
The Police Department of the City of Saratoga Springs shall be under the general control and management of the Commissioner of Public Safety. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Safety to ensure that the Police Department preserves peace and good order; enforces the laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations of the City, New York State and the United States; and performs other duties the Council shall prescribe.
6.1.1 
Training. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall, with the assistance of the Chief of Police, provide appropriate training of all police personnel and shall prepare and submit plans and credentials necessary to gain state accreditation of the Police Department.
6.1.2 
Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall have immediate direction and control of the Police Department, subject to the policies, rules, regulations, and orders established by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
6.1.3 
Police personnel. The Police Department shall include, in addition to the Chief of Police, such other ranks within the Department as the Commissioner of Public Safety may hereafter create with the approval of the Council.
6.1.4 
Police powers and authority. Police officers of the City of Saratoga Springs shall have all the powers, authority, and duties conferred on them by the laws of the State of New York. All police officers shall have the power and authority to arrest any person or persons observed by them to be in violation of any of the penal ordinances or laws of the City, the State of New York or the United States. They shall not serve civil process.
6.1.5 
Oath of office. Police officers shall take and file with the City Clerk the Constitutional Oath of Office.
The Fire Department of the City of Saratoga Springs shall be under general control and management of the Commissioner of Public Safety. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Safety to ensure that the Fire Department has the resources to fight and control fires, enforce the relevant fire codes and regulations of the City, provide medical care and handling of hazardous materials incidents, and perform other duties the Council and the Commissioner of Public Safety may prescribe, pursuant to Department job descriptions, collective bargaining agreements, and Civil Service Law.
6.2.1 
Training. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall, with assistance of the Fire Chief, provide for appropriate training of all Fire Department personnel and ensure that applicable provisions of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code are implemented.
6.2.2 
Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Safety and shall have immediate direction and control of the Fire Department, subject to policies, rules, regulations, and orders established by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
6.2.3 
Fire Department personnel. The Fire Department shall include, in addition to Fire Chief, other ranks within the Department as the Commissioner of Public Safety may hereafter create with approval of the Council.
The Commissioner of Public Safety shall have responsibility to ensure that there are adequate plans, preparations, and community awareness of potential threats to the health and safety of the citizens of Saratoga Springs. The written plans described below shall be submitted to the City Clerk's office for public review.
6.3.1 
Strategic Traffic Safety and Enforcement Plan. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall develop, manage, and implement a Strategic Traffic Safety and Enforcement Plan and shall submit such plan to the Council for its approval or modification. Such plan shall be reviewed and updated periodically but not less than once every three years.
6.3.2 
Strategic Emergency Medical Services Plan. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall develop, manage, and implement a Strategic Emergency Medical Services Plan and shall submit such plan to the Council for its approval or modification. Such plan shall be reviewed and updated periodically but not less than once every three years.
6.3.3 
Strategic Emergency Management Plan. The Commissioner of Public Safety shall develop, manage, and implement an integrated Strategic Emergency Management Plan and shall submit such plan to the Council for its approval or modification. This plan shall include procedures for dealing with potential threats to the health, safety, and welfare of the community and its residents due to dangers, including, but not limited to, movement of hazardous materials, natural disasters, and illegal activities that could adversely affect the City. Such plan shall be reviewed and updated periodically, but not less than once every three years.