The Police Department of the City of Hometown shall consist
of a Chief of Police and such other officers, policemen and employees
and auxiliary officers, policemen, and employees as shall by ordinance
from time to time be determined by the Mayor and City Council. Said
department, called the "Department of Police," is hereby created.
Notwithstanding any oral representation to the contrary, all members
of the Police Department may be suspended or terminated without notice,
without a hearing and without cause.
[Amended 3-28-2006 by Ord. No. 4-2006; 5-13-2008 by Ord. No. 6-2008; 6-26-2012 by Ord. No. 4-2012; 11-22-2016 by Ord. No. 7-2016; 5-14-2019 by Ord. No. 05-2019; 6-23-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020; 6-23-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020]
(A) The Police Department of the City of Hometown shall consist of the
following regular and part-time police officers and employees:
[Amended 6-28-2022 by Ord. No. 6-2022]
(2) Two Deputy Chiefs (part-time).
(3) Two Commanders (part-time).
(4) Three Lieutenants of Police (part-time).
(5) Four Sergeants of Police (part-time).
(6) Four Corporals (part-time).
(7) Three Patrol Officers (full-time).
(8) Patrol Officers (part-time). The City Council shall, from time to
time, determine the number of patrol officers.
(9) Radio operators, desk clerks, dispatchers, and other persons working
for the Police Department shall be civilian employees of the Police
Department subject to its jurisdiction.
(B) Subsection (A)(1) through (9) shall constitute the chain of command
for the Police Department of the City of Hometown. In the event that
an individual of higher rank is unable to perform his duties, those
duties shall be assumed by an individual who is appointed to the rank
immediately below it in the chain of command. In the event that a
rank is eliminated while that position is being held, the individual
holding that rank shall revert to his prior rank. If the prior rank
no longer exists, he shall assume the rank situated immediately below
that rank. The promotion of a full-time Patrol Officer will not create
a vacancy in rank if the full-time officer serves on a full-time basis
in the promoted rank. Whether the officer serves the on a full-time
basis in the promoted rank is subject to the approval of the City
Council.
The salaries of the members and employees of the Police Department
of the City shall be determined and fixed by the Mayor and City Council
in the annual appropriation ordinance of the City each year, or by
ordinance or resolution.
[Amended 8-8-2017 by Ord.
No. 9-2017; 5-14-2019 by Ord. No. 05-2019]
The power to discipline or suspend a full-time police officer shall be with the Chief of Police. The removal or discharge of any full-time members of the Police Department, including the Chief of Police, shall be pursuant to §
2.24. The Chief of Police shall have the power to discipline, suspend or discharge all auxiliary, part-time or non-full-time police officers. The Mayor is also authorized to discipline, suspend or discharge all auxiliary, part-time or non-full-time police officers.
[Amended 3-24-2009 by Ord. No. 3-2009; 8-8-2017 by Ord. No. 9-2017; 5-14-2019 by Ord. No. 05-2019; 6-23-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020]
(A) There is hereby created the office of Chief of Police, who shall
be appointed by the Mayor and the Aldermen voting jointly. (Referendum
11-2-1982). The Mayor is authorized to appoint an ad hoc committee
of three Aldermen to facilitate the selection of a Chief of Police
or any full-time officer. The Mayor is authorized to remove the Chief
of Police or any full-time officer with any such removal being confirmed
by a majority of the corporate authority, within 15 days of the Mayor's
removal.
(B) The Chief of Police shall have the management and control of all
matters relating to the Department and its officers and members, and
of the books and records belonging to the Department. He shall from
time to time divide the City into such police districts and subdivisions
thereof as he may deem advisable and assign the policemen to duty;
all regulations or orders of the Department shall be promulgated through
the Chief of Police.
(C) He shall, with the consent of the City Council, prescribe the proper
uniform and badge for all regular and auxiliary officers, and shall
make suitable regulations, under which they shall be required to wear
an appropriate uniform and badge, by which they may be known and designated
at all times.
(D) He shall, subject to the approval of the City Council, have the power
to hire part-time Patrol Officers and promote officers in rank.
(E) He shall have the power to suspend, without pay, any policeman (including
part-time and auxiliary officers) from duty.
(F) The Chief of Police shall keep a suitable record of arrests made
by the members of the Police Department or other officers where prisoners
are brought to the police station for safekeeping or detention, such
record to contain the following information: number of arrests, date,
name of prisoner, charge, name of officer or citizen arresting, name
of magistrate trying charge, amount of fine imposed, costs, and such
other information as may be necessary or essential for the guidance
of the Police Department and information to the proper City authorities.
(G) The Chief of Police, with the consent of the City Council, is hereby
authorized to designate a Fire Inspector. The Fire Inspector shall
be a member of the Hometown Fire Protection District and shall possess
the required technical training, knowledge and certification necessary
to discharge the duties attendant to the office. The Fire Inspector
is hereby authorized to enforce the provisions of the Municipal Code
of the City of Hometown relating to fire prevention, including the
International Fire Code.
[Amended 3-24-2009 by Ord. No. 3-2009]
(A) The several members of the police force of the City of Hometown,
including the Chief of Police, shall devote their time and attention
to the discharge of their duties, according to the ordinances and
the rules and regulations which the Mayor and City Council may adopt
and prescribe. It shall be the duty of each member of the police force
of the City to preserve order, peace and quiet, and enforce the law
and ordinances throughout the City. They shall report to the Chief
of Police all cases where buildings may be in the process of erection
prior to the issuance of permit, all sidewalks and roadways that are
in a dangerous condition, all cases of unlawful obstruction of streets
and alleys and other public grounds, all cases of contagious diseases,
all cases of unsanitary conditions, all thefts and robberies and other
infractions of the laws and ordinances of the City, all serious accidents,
and all accidents wherever the City may become liable; and the Chief
of Police shall record such reports in a record to be provided for
the purpose. He shall immediately report in writing to the department
having control of the respective matters all such defective, unsanitary
and illegal conditions, and shall make a complete and full report
thereof, together with a full and complete investigation of the facts,
to the Mayor and City Council at the first following regular meeting
of the Council.
[Amended 5-14-2019 by Ord. No. 05-2019]
(B) Police officers shall immediately stop the process of any and all
such violations, and they shall have the power to arrest all persons
of the City on view found in violation of any law or ordinance of
the City, or aiding and abetting in any such violation, and shall
take all such persons so arrested before a Judge of the Circuit Court
of Cook County, District 5, if any can be found, and prefer charges
or make complaint against such persons so arrested and prosecute the
same. If such arrest is made in the night time, or on Sunday, and
no judge can be found, such person so arrested shall be confined in
some safe place provided for that purpose, until some judge can be
found before whom a trial can be had; and in all cases where it becomes
necessary to confine any person under arrest, if such person is violent,
or if for any other reason the officer having such person in charge
shall be apprehended of any attempt to escape, or if he shall suspect
that such person has concealed upon or about his person any deadly
weapon, and if such weapon shall be found or any instrument that will
aid such person to escape from confinement, the officer having such
person in charge shall remove the same and deliver the same to the
Chief of Police, who shall safely keep the same; when such person
shall be released from arrest or confinement, the Chief of Police
shall return such article to the person from whom the same may have
been taken if the same shall not have been otherwise lawfully disposed.
(C) The Chief of Police and all policemen shall have power and authority
within the City to serve and execute all warrants, writs and other
process for the apprehension and commitment of persons charged with
an offense, or crime, or misdemeanor, or held for examination or trial
for the violation of any law or ordinance of the City. They shall
also have power and authority within the City to serve and execute
any and all writs, warrants, summons or other process or assist in
the same. Such policemen shall have and possess all the power and
authority conferred on constables at common law and by the statutes
of the State of Illinois.
Any member of the police force of the City may seize any instrument,
device or thing used for the purpose of gambling, or by or on which
money or other articles of value may be lost or won, and all such
instruments, devices, or things may be demolished or destroyed.
It shall be unlawful for any person to break open any jail of
said City, or in any manner directly or indirectly aid or assist in
or counsel or advise the breaking open of any jail of said City to
escape therefrom.
It shall be unlawful for any person to falsely represent himself
or assume or pretend to be a policeman of the City of Hometown, or
a member of the police force or Police Department of said City, or,
with intent to deceive, use or wear in public or imitate any of the
signs, signals, or devices adopted and used by the Police Department
of said City, or to wear in public the uniform or badge adopted or
used as the police uniform or badge of said City, or any other which
shall be similar in appearance.
It shall be unlawful for any police officer to neglect or refuse
to perform any duty required of him by the laws and ordinances of
this City or in the discharge of his official duties to be guilty
of fraud, favoritism, partiality, extortion, oppression, or willful
wrong and injustice, and no member of the Police Department of said
City shall receive for his own benefit or share in any present, gift,
or emolument for police services of any nature or any kind, manner
or form; all rewards, gifts, emolument, or gratuities shall be turned
over to the Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund.
[Added 6-26-2012 by Ord.
No. 4-2012]
(A) Appointment. The Police Chief shall examine all applicants for the
position of part-time police officer and make recommendations to the
City Council for original appointment. No one shall be appointed as
a part-time police officer without the prior approval of the City
Council.
(B) Duties. Part-time police officers shall have all the responsibilities
of full-time police officers as limited by the general orders issued
by the Chief of Police and by Illinois law. Part-time police officers
shall not be assigned to supervise or direct full-time police officers.
Part-time officers shall be trained in accordance with the provisions
of the Illinois Police Training Act (50 ILCS 705/1 et seq.) and the
rules and regulations promulgated by the Illinois Law Enforcement
Training and Standards Board. The number of hours a part-time police
officer may work within a calendar year is restricted.
(C) Discipline. All part-time police officers are under the command of
the Chief of Police and are governed by the rules and regulations
of the City of Hometown Police Department. The Chief of Police shall
have the authority to discipline, suspend, or terminate a part-time
police officer with or without cause.
(D) Requirements. Any person employed as a part-time police officer must
meet the following standards:
(1) Be of good moral character, of temperate habits, of sound health,
and physically and mentally able to perform assigned duties;
(2) Be at least 21 years of age;
(3) Possess a high school diploma or GED certificate;
(4) Possess a valid Illinois driver's license;
(5) Submit to a fingerprint, criminal history and background investigation;
(6) Have no prior felony convictions;
(7) Be honorably discharged from the United States military if having
served in the military;
(8) Pass medical and other examinations mandated by the City of Hometown;
(9) Possess a valid FOID card;
(10)
Be certified by the Illinois Police Training Standards Board
pursuant to 50 ILCS 705/1; and
(11)
Comply with all hiring standards imposed by the Police Chief
and the City of Hometown.