The City Manager shall appoint a Chief of Police with the advice
and consent of the City Council.
[Amended 2-3-1992 by Ord.
No. 360; 10-6-2011 by Ord. No. 11-148]
The Chief of Police must be a resident of the City of Augusta
within 90 days of his/her appointment. The City Council, upon recommendation
of the City Manager, may waive this requirement at its discretion.
[Amended 1-30-1995 by Ord. No. 8]
The Chief of Police is the chief law enforcement officer of
the City, and he shall have all the powers vested in him by statute.
The Chief shall be responsible for enforcing the local, state and
federal laws, and he shall perform such other duties as the Council
shall prescribe. The Chief of Police is authorized to represent the
City in District Court in the prosecution of alleged violations of
those ordinances which the Police Department is empowered to enforce,
if duly certified in accordance with 25 M.R.S.A. § 2803-A,
or successor statute. The Chief of Police may designate any officer
within the Department, if so certified, to perform this prosecutorial
function.
The Chief of Police, with the approval of the City Manager,
shall appoint such number of special police officers as he deems necessary.
The Chief of Police, with the approval of the City Manager,
shall appoint school crossing guards.
The Chief of Police shall receive, post, deliver and execute
all notifications and precepts issued by the Mayor, a Councilmember,
the City Clerk, Council or any committee of the same, and make due
return thereof.
All police officers of the Police Department shall have and
exercise all powers given to and shall perform all duties imposed
upon constables within the limits of the City, except service of civil process, and all powers given
to and all duties imposed upon police officers by the state statutes,
the Charter and the City ordinances.
No police officer shall hold any other public office or take
any active part in politics. Any violation hereof shall be considered
cause for removal.