There is created a Police Department, an executive department
of the City. The Police Department consists of the Chief of Police
and such number of other police officers as may be provided from time
to time by the City Council.
There is created the Office of Chief of Police. He shall be
appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council; and he
shall be ex officio City Marshal and Superintendent of Police.
A. Bond. The
Chief of Police shall not be required to be bonded, but shall be covered
by employee dishonesty insurance as a part of the general liability
policy of the City of El Paso while the Police Chief is employed by
the City.
[Amended 2-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 994; 8-2-2021 by Ord. No. 1046]
B. Duties.
The Chief of Police shall keep such records and make such reports
concerning the activities of his Department as may be required by
statute or by the City Council. The Chief shall be responsible for
the performance by the Police Department of all its functions, and
all persons who are members of the Police Department shall serve subject
to the orders of the Chief of Police.
[Amended 1978 by Ord. No. 507]
It shall be the duty of the members of the Police Department
to see to the enforcement of all the ordinances of the City and all
statutes applicable thereto; and to preserve order and prevent infractions
of the law and arrest violators thereof.
No member of the Police Department except the Chief shall serve
any process except on command of the Chief of Police.
It shall be the duty of every member of the Police Department
to conduct himself in a proper and law-abiding manner at all times
and to avoid the use of unnecessary force. Each member of the Department
shall obey the orders and directions of his superior.
Any member of the Police Department shall appear as witness
whenever this is necessary in a prosecution for a violation of an
ordinance or of any state or federal law. No such member shall retain
any witness fee for service as witness in any action or suit to which
the City is a party; and fees paid for such services shall be turned
over to the Chief of Police, who shall deposit the same with the City
Treasurer.
The Chief of Police shall be the custodian of all lost and abandoned
or stolen property in the City.
[Added 1997 by Ord. No. 715]
The following standards for hiring part-time police officers
are established:
A. Part-time police officers shall be members of the regular Police
Department of the City, except for pension, deferred compensation
and other benefit purposes.
B. Part-time police officers shall be United States citizens and shall
be a minimum of 21 years of age.
C. Part-time police officers must possess a valid high school diploma
or GED equivalent. Preference may be given to individuals with added
college or professional training. Additional secondary credits in
criminal justice and/or law enforcement experience shall also be preferred.
D. Part-time police officers must successfully complete a certified
Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board forty-hour mandatory
firearms certification course prior to carrying a firearm.
E. Part-time police officers must possess a valid Illinois driver's
license without restrictions relating to the ability to drive during
any portion of a twenty-four-hour day.
F. Part-time police officers shall also comply with any requirements
set forth in the rules and regulations and personnel policies of the
El Paso Police Department, as amended, and with all applicable ordinances
and regulations of the City pertaining to probationary periods for
police officers.
G. Part-time police officers must be capable of completing the State
of Illinois training and physical requirements.
H. Part-time police officers shall successfully complete any training
mandated by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board.
I. Part-time police officers shall be restricted in the number of hours
they may work within a calendar year. The number of hours shall be
determined by the El Paso Police Department, with the understanding
that the number of hours shall not exceed the number of hours permitted
by any applicable law.
[Added 2-18-2013 by Ord.
No. 942]