[Adopted 3-24-2020 by Ord. No. 5-2020]
The police matron program is considered an auxiliary program
within the Police Department, consisting of female personnel. The
purpose of the program is to provide assistance to regular sworn officers
in the handling and security of female prisoners or detainees.
A.
Compensation. Police matrons shall be compensated at the rate adopted
by the governing body.
Police matrons are not considered to be sworn law enforcement
personnel their duties are restricted to those activities which are
under the direct supervision and direction of regular sworn personnel
of this agency.
A.
Use of weapons. No police matron is authorized to carry, use or have
in their possession any weapon of any type (firearm, PR-24, mace,
etc.).
B.
Duties outside of the City. Police matrons duties are confined to
the boundaries of the City of Northfield, except under those circumstances
where a matron is required to assist an officer in the transportation
of a female prisoner or detainee.
C.
Chain of command. Police matrons are under the direct supervision
of the officer charged with the investigation regardless of his rank,
and matrons are subject to the same chain of command as are other
police personnel.
The decision to utilize a police matron will be at the discretion
or the shift commander. Police matrons will be utilized under the
following circumstances:
A.
Female prisoners: searching female prisoners.
B.
Attending to female prisoners: attending to female prisoners while
being detained at police headquarters.
C.
Surveillance while in detention: maintaining surveillance of females
who are being held within the detention facility.
D.
Transportation of female prisoners: assist regular sworn officers
with the transportation of female prisoners.
E.
Juvenile female prisoners: assist regular sworn officers with the
processing of female juvenile offenders.
F.
Assistance with police operations: assisting regular sworn officers
who may be conducting a police function or operation where there may
be the potential of female prisoners or detainees.
Police matrons will not be appointed to perform any duties until
such time as they have completed a prescribed course of training offered
at an accredited police training academy and they have successfully
completed such training program. Police matrons are also subject to
any training program that is deemed necessary by the Chief of Police.
Police matrons will not be required to wear a uniform of any
type which would identify them as a police officer.
