[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
There is hereby established the Police Department of the City,
which shall consist of the Chief of Police and such police officers
as the Council shall prescribe by ordinance. They shall receive such
compensation as shall be determined by ordinance, and such compensation
shall be in lieu of all special fees, rewards, or remuneration arising
from such police service.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
A. The Chief of Police shall be the chief executive officer and shall
have direct control and management of all members of the department
in the lawful exercise of their duties. He shall be responsible for
the maintenance of order, the enforcement of laws, ordinances and
regulations of the City, the prevention of crime, and the protection
of life and property. In case of the absence or disability of the
Chief, the Mayor shall designate a police officer to be acting Chief,
and such Chief shall perform the duties and exercise the power and
authority of the Chief, but shall be entitled to no additional salary.
B. The Chief of Police and each full-time police officer shall devote
full time to Police Department duties and shall not engage in any
other business, profession or occupation, either directly or indirectly,
unless approved in writing by the Chief of Police, after it has been
determined not to conflict with Department policies.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
A. The Chief of Police shall adopt written internal rules and regulations
for the government, discipline, equipment and uniforms of police officers,
fixing their duties, and prescribing penalties for violation of any
such rules and regulations.
B. The Chief of Police shall have custody, care and control of the public
property and equipment of the Police Department, subject to the approval
of the City Council. He shall conduct yearly surveys of such property
and equipment, arrange for the salvaging of discarded or impaired
items, and submit recommendations as to future needs.
C. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to keep an accurate and
complete record of all complaints, arrests and traffic violations.
The Chief shall also keep a record of the accomplishments and performances
of each police officer.
D. The Chief of Police shall, immediately following the end of each
calendar month, cause to be submitted to the City Council a written
report on all activities and transactions of the Department during
the month, to include new hires. He shall also submit a report at
the end of each calendar year. He shall include either in the annual
report, or with the proposed departmental budget for the ensuing year,
such recommendations as he shall deem advisable with respect to departmental
organization, personnel, or equipment.
E. All funds arising out of Police Department operations that may be
collected by any member of the Department shall be deposited with
the Clerk/Treasurer or someone designated by said officer not later
than the succeeding business day. The Chief of Police shall file with
the Clerk/Treasurer or someone designated by said officer, accompanying
each deposit, a statement showing in detail the source of such receipts,
and the Chief shall affix thereto his certificate stating that the
money so paid is all of the funds collected or received by the Department
since the preceding statement so filed.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
Each member of the Police Department shall wear a suitable badge,
to be furnished by the City, and every member of the Police Department
shall, while on duty, wear a uniform which shall comply with the rules
and regulations. The Chief may issue written orders authorizing the
performance of a specific duty while not in uniform. Any member of
the Department who shall lose or destroy such badge or other property
furnished by the City shall be required to pay the cost of replacement.
Whenever any member shall terminate membership in the Department he
shall immediately deliver his badge and all other City property in
his possession, to the Chief of Police, and all sums due said member
shall be withheld pending final settlement.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
Each applicant for the position of Chief of Police or police
officer shall meet the minimum standards as set forth by the Arkansas
Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) Section
1002 and Section 1003.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
A. Each member of the Department shall be subject to suspension without
pay for a period not to exceed 30 days; to demotion or removal from
office or employment for misconduct, incompetency, inefficiency, cowardice,
or failure to perform duties, or to observe the rules and regulations,
but subject to the right of appeal of the aggrieved party to the Council
in the manner set forth herein.
B. Any Department member shall, within three days after the effective
date of such suspension, demotion or discharge, be entitled to receive
a written statement of the reasons for such action from the person
issuing the order, one copy to be filed with the City Clerk and another
to be furnished to the member affected by the action. Within seven
days after the receipt of such written statement, the member concerned
may file with the City Clerk a written request that the Council review
such suspension, demotion or removal. Within five days of the receipt
of a request for an appeal by the City Clerk, the City Council shall
meet to review the appeal.
C. Such action shall be taken by the Mayor, in the case of the Chief
of Police, or in the case of another member of the Department, the
Chief of Police.
D. The Council may make or cause to be made, such investigation as it
may deem necessary and thereafter hold a public hearing at which time
it shall hear evidence for and against the party aggrieved. Hearings
may be informally conducted and the strict rules of evidence need
not apply, written conclusion of findings of the Council shall be
rendered within 10 days after the matter is submitted and thereupon
be certified to the official from whose order the appeal was taken.
Such findings and conclusions of the Council may contain such recommendations
as it shall deem warranted.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
The Mayor may, in the case of riot or other emergency, appoint
for a specified term as many special policeman as may be necessary.
During such term, the special policeman shall possess only those powers
and perform those duties as shall be specifically assigned to him
by the Chief of Police. Such term of appointment shall expire not
more than one week following the termination of any riot or other
emergency.