The purpose and intent of this article is to secure the general
health, safety and welfare of the residents of the city of Brenham,
Texas by:
(1)
Explicitly
creating a police department and outlining both its authority and
jurisdiction;
(2)
Explicitly
creating the position of chief of police to oversee and manage the
police department; and
(3)
Outlining
the duties and responsibilities of both the chief of police and officers.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
There is hereby created a police department of the City of Brenham,
at the head of which shall be the chief of police. The police department
shall be composed of the chief of the police and other officers and
employees as the city council may provide. The jurisdiction of the
department shall be the corporate limits of the city and that property
lying outside the city limits which is owned by the city, except as
otherwise provided by state law.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
No person shall be certified as a police officer who has not
complied with the basic requirements established by the State of Texas
for police officers and the City of Brenham, acting through the chief
of police.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
(a)
The police
department shall consist of the chief of police and such members as
the city council may provide.
(b)
The chief
of police shall be appointed by the city manager.
(c)
The chief
of the police shall carry out the functions of the police department
relating to public safety and enforcement of ordinances, state and
federal laws; organize the police department of the city in conformity
with the laws of the State of Texas and the ordinances of the city;
and shall promulgate policies, procedures, rules, directives and orders
for the administration of the department, including but not limited
to, discipline within the department.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
(a)
Individual
police officers constituting the police department are invested with
all the power and authority given to them as peace officers under
the laws of the state. Inherent with this power and authority is the
obligation to preserve the peace, to enforce the ordinances and regulations
of the city, the laws of the State of Texas and of the United States,
to take legal custody of offenders and to secure the citizens from
violence.
(b)
All personnel
of the police department shall be subject to and bound by the most
current directives, orders, rules, regulations and procedures for
the operation of the police department as may be promulgated or as
hereinafter amended by the chief of police, and failure to abide therewith
shall subject the violating personnel to such disciplinary action
as may be determined by the chief of police within the limits of federal
and state law and/or city ordinances.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
The police chief may establish a reserve police force in the
city. The reserve police force may be activated, or deactivated, at
the discretion of the chief of police.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
Members of the reserve police force shall serve at the discretion
of the chief of police and may be called into active service at any
time the chief of police or designee considers it necessary to have
additional officers to preserve and enforce the law.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
The reserve police force shall not exceed in number one-half
(1/2) of the total number of regular police officers authorized by
the city council.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
Members of the reserve police force may serve without compensation.
Uniforms and uniform compensation may be provided at the discretion
of the chief of police. The city may provide the same benefits to
the reserves as any other volunteer performing official duties.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
Reserve police officers must comply with the minimum training
standards established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
Standards and Education. Such minimum standards, established for all
reserve law enforcement officers, must be fulfilled before a person
appointed as a reserve law enforcement officer may carry a weapon
or otherwise act as a peace officer.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
The chief of police shall establish qualifications and standards
of training for members of the reserve police force and shall establish
policies and regulations governing the reserve members. The chief
of police may establish for the reserve police force the same minimum
physical, mental, educational and moral standards as applicable to
the regular police department, but in no case shall the standards
be less than that established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
Officer Standards and Education.
(Ordinance O-12-008, sec. 1, adopted 5/17/12)
