There shall be a Department of Police Protection which shall
be responsible for the coordination of all the police-related activities
of the City and for the supervision and coordination of all activities
of all City agencies in relation to any police safety matter.
The Department of Police Protection shall be responsible for
and shall include the following functions:
The Department of Police Protection shall consist of the following
offices:
A.
Police Office.
(1)
The Police Office shall be responsible for maintaining, keeping and
preserving the public peace and order. It shall be responsible for
programs of crime prevention, crime detection and for traffic safety
and enforcement of rules and regulations governing the operation of
motor vehicles and the use of ways by pedestrians. The functions of
the Police Office shall include but are not limited to those enumerated
below.
(2)
The Police Office shall be responsible for the following specific
functions:
(a)
Crime prevention: preserve the public peace, prevent crime,
and detect and arrest offenders.
(b)
Traffic enforcement: administer and enforce laws regulating,
directing, controlling and restricting the movement of vehicular and
pedestrian traffic, and the general use of the streets by vehicles
and the public.
(c)
Training: operate a training program to maintain and improve
the competence and efficiency of the members of the Department.
(d)
Incident report preparation: prepare reports on injuries to
persons and property occurring by accident or otherwise on the streets,
in alleys and other public places within the City as required by law.
(e)
Weapons disposition: provide a procedure for the destruction
or other disposition of all weapons or other articles used in the
commission of crime or coming into the custody of the department;
provided that where such weapon or article may be used as evidence
in either a civil or criminal proceeding, it shall in no way be disposed
of except upon a written order of a court of law.
(f)
Lost property: provide a procedure for the sale of unclaimed,
lost or stolen articles coming into the custody of the Department.
(g)
Prosecution: The Chief of Police shall cause proceedings to
be instituted for the prosecution of violations of laws or ordinances,
and attend to the trial of the same; and each member of the Police
Department shall enforce laws of the commonwealth and the laws and
ordinances of the City and discharge such other duties as may be required
of the officer.
[Amended 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]
(h)
Investigation of accidents: Upon the happening of any accident,
wherein the City may become a party or subject to any liability whatsoever,
the Chief of Police or ranking officer shall forthwith cause a thorough
investigation to be made. He shall see that all available witnesses
are interviewed, measurements taken, plans made by the Director of
Engineering, Commissioner of Public Services, Public Works and photographs
of the locus taken by a competent photographer, if in his opinion
such steps are necessary to protect the City's interest. All data
in reference to such accident shall be filed with the permanent records
of the Department for reference, and for the use of the City Solicitor.
B.
Animal Control Office. The Animal Control Office shall be headed
by the Animal Inspector as provided for by ordinance. In addition
to the powers and duties provided by ordinance, the person appointed
as the Animal Inspector shall also exercise the powers and perform
the duties of Inspector of Animals, as provided by ordinance. The
Animal Control Office shall be responsible for the enforcement of
all laws relating to dogs, including but not limited to MGL c. 140,
§§ 136A to 174E, and all ordinances of the City further
regulating animals. The office shall also be responsible for the inspection
of animals as required by Chapter 129 of the General Laws and, in
particular, for the regular inspection of neat cattle, sheep and swine
and all other domestic animals.
[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013]
There shall be two clerical assistants assigned to the Police
Department who may be classified as Clerk-Typists, Senior Clerk-Typists,
or Principal Clerks, as the case may be, whose duties shall consist
of clerical work only.
There shall be one motor equipment repairman assigned to the
Police Department, from the Public Services Department, whose duties
shall consist of repairs and the maintenance of Police Department
equipment, and Fire Department equipment, when necessary.
[Amended by Ord. No. 331]
A.
There shall be within the Police Department the position of Confidential
Secretary to the Chief of Police. The duties of this secretary shall
be prescribed by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall appoint
the Confidential Secretary, subject to confirmation by the City Council.
The duties and responsibilities may include, but not be limited to,
the following:
(1)
Confidential management of reports and information.
(2)
Inter-department liaison for the Chief.
(3)
Liaison with other City, state and federal offices.
(4)
Preparation of confidential reports, letters and records.
(5)
Typing and composition of correspondence; maintenance and responsibility
for confidential files.
(6)
Management of office operations for the Office of the Chief.
(7)
Other duties as prescribed by the Chief.
[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013]
All members of the Police Department, except the Chief of Police,
shall be appointed by the Chief of Police.
A.
Any neglect of or refusal to perform duty or any disorderly conduct
or disobedience or any violation of the rules or regulations of the
Police Department shall be proper cause for suspension, reduction
in rank or removal from the Department, subject to civil service law
and the City Charter.
[Amended 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]
B.
Any such misconduct shall be reported forthwith in writing by the
Chief of Police to the Mayor, which report shall contain the name
of the offending person and a statement of his misconduct. The Mayor
may thereupon suspend such person and may, after a hearing by him
in accordance with the laws relating to civil service, reinstate such
person or continue such suspension for a definite period or reduce
in rank or remove such person from the Police Department. Subject
to the provisions of the laws relating to civil service, any member
suspended from duty shall not act as a member of the Department or
be entitled to any compensation until reinstated by the Mayor, and
in all cases of removal from office or Department the name of the
person removed, with a statement of the reasons therefor, shall be
entered upon the records of the Department.
[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013]
A.
There shall be appointed annually by the Chief of Police, subject
to confirmation by the City Council, such number, as the Chief of
Police may deem proper, of special officers with all the powers of
regular patrol officers. Authority vested in special officers shall
be confined solely to the property of their employers. All special
officers shall be subject to the authority of the Chief of Police.
B.
Special officers shall hold office until their successors are appointed
and qualified, unless previously removed from office by the Chief
of Police.
[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013]
The Chief of Police may appoint, subject to confirmation of
the City Council, special officers to serve as school traffic supervisors
at the request of the School Committee to handle school traffic. The
duties of the school traffic supervisors shall be to control the flow
of traffic by stopping, starting and directing such traffic. Any operator
of any motor vehicle not obeying the hand signals of the school traffic
supervisors on active duty shall have his registration number taken
and turned in to the Chief of Police or head of the Traffic Division
within the Police Department.
