There is hereby created and established a police department
in the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-1)
The police department shall be composed of the director of the
department of police who shall serve as chief of police, and such
number of detectives and police officers as the city council may from
time to time deem necessary and proper.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-2)
The members of the police department, including the director,
shall be appointed by the city manager and shall hold their respective
offices at will.
(Ordinance 1239-2019, sec. 41, adopted 8/13/19)
The chief of police shall have supervision, subordinate to that
of the city manager, over the other members of the police department.
(Ordinance 1239-2019, sec. 42, adopted 8/13/19)
The chief of police shall have the exclusive right to suspend
any of the officers and employees who may be under his jurisdiction
and control in accordance with the current policies and procedures
of the department and the city.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-5; Ordinance
adopting Code)
In case of absence, sickness or inability to act, on the part
of the chief of police, the city manager shall designate some other
member of the force, or other suitable person, as acting chief of
police during the period of such absence, sickness or inability to
act, and such person shall exercise all the rights, powers and duties
of the chief during such period.
(Ordinance 1239-2019, sec. 43, adopted 8/13/19)
The compensation of the members of the police department shall
be salaries payable monthly in a sum to be fixed by the council, subject
to change from time to time by the council.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-7)
Before entering upon the duties of their respective offices
the members of the police department shall give bond, if required
by the council, in such sum as may be prescribed by the council, conditioned
as the council may deem it best for the efficiency of the public service.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-8)
The members of the police department shall take and subscribe
to the oath of office prescribed by the constitution of the state
for county officials.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-9)
The chief of police and all police officers and other members
of the police department shall be and they are hereby invested with
all the power and authority given to them as peace officers under
the laws of the state in taking cognizance of and in enforcing the
criminal laws of the state and the ordinances and regulations of the
city within the limits of the city, and it shall be the duty of such
officers to be active in quelling riots, disorders and disturbances
of the peace within the limits of the city, and shall take into custody
all persons so offending against the public peace.
Such officers shall further use their best endeavors to prevent
the commission within the city of offenses against the laws of the
state and of the ordinances and regulations of the city; to observe
and enforce all such laws, ordinances and regulations; to detect and
arrest offenders against the same; to preserve the good order of the
city and to secure the inhabitants thereof from violence, and the
property therein from injury. Such officers shall have no power or
authority in civil matters, but shall execute any criminal warrant
or warrant of arrest that may be placed in their hands by the duly
constituted authorities of the city. Such officers shall not receive
any fee or other compensation for any services rendered in the performance
of duty, other than the salary paid by the city, except upon the approval
of the city council, nor shall they receive a fee as witness in any
case arising under the laws of the state, or under the ordinances
or regulations of the city and prosecuted in the municipal court.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-10)
In case of vacancy for any cause in the police department, the
city manager or police chief shall appoint some person to fill such
vacancy.
(Ordinance 1239-2019, sec. 44, adopted 8/13/19)
The chief of police or one of the members of the police department
selected by the chief of police shall attend upon every session of
the municipal court and shall promptly and faithfully execute all
writs and process issued from the court.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-12)
Subject to the direction of the city manager, the chief of police
shall have control and management of the city jail.
(Ordinance 1239-2019, sec. 45, adopted 8/13/19)
The chief of police shall have the authority to take suitable
and sufficient bail for appearance before the municipal court of any
person charged with an offense within the jurisdiction of the court.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-14)
The chief of police, in order to prevent a breach of the peace
or to preserve quiet and good order, shall have the authority to close
any theater, barroom, drinking house, or any other place or building
of public resort, and in the prevention and suppression of crime and
the arrest of offenders within the city he shall have like power and
jurisdiction and authority as the sheriff of the county under the
laws of the state.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-15)
The chief of police, police officers and other members of the
police department shall arrest all persons who shall obstruct or interfere
with them in the execution of the duties of their offices, or who
shall be guilty of any disorderly conduct whatever.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-16)
In all cases of arrest without warrant, the officer making the
arrest shall immediately take the person arrested before the magistrate
who ordered the arrest, or if the arrest was made without an order,
then before the nearest or most accessible magistrate having jurisdiction.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-18)
The city council shall prescribe the uniforms and badges for
the members of the police force and direct the manner in which the
members of said force shall be armed.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-19)
The council may at its discretion provide for the relief of
members of the police department temporarily or permanently disabled
in the discharge of their duties, and shall also have the right to
provide for the organization and administration of a pension fund
to provide for old, disabled and infirm members of the police force,
under such system, rules and regulations as may be deemed advisable,
whenever the finances of the city will justify the undertaking of
this service.
(1965 Code, sec. 16-21)
(a)
There
is hereby established a city police reserve force to be composed of
persons who have volunteered to join the reserve police force, whose
application for membership has been accepted, and who have complied
with the rules, regulations, ordinances and orders provided for the
conduct and control of the members thereof and have been appointed
as such by the chief of police.
(b)
Members
of the police reserve force shall not be considered employees of the
city for any purposes other than supervision and control while on
duty.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
The members of the police reserve force may act only in a supplementary
capacity to the regular police force and may not assume the full-time
duties of regular police officers without complying with the requirements
for regular police officers.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
All
applicants for positions with the police reserve force must apply
in writing on the form prescribed by the chief of police.
(b)
All
applicants for positions with the police reserve force must meet the
following basic qualifications:
(c)
Selections
will be made after examinations are administered, and appointments
will be made by the chief of police with approval of the city council
before the applicant is appointed. All examinations shall be impartial,
to the extent reasonably possible, practical in their character, and
shall relate to those matters which fairly test the relative capacity
of the persons examined to discharge the duties of the position to
which they expect to be appointed.
(e)
All
applicants, before appointment to the police reserve force, shall
subscribe to an oath that he or she will obey and observe the constitution
of the state and the laws of this nation, this state, and this city
and that he or she will carry out the duties of a member of the police
reserve force.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
The
chief of police may call the reserve force into service at any time
the chief considers it necessary to have additional officers to preserve
the peace and enforce the law.
(b)
The
chief of police may, by order, establish rules and regulations to
govern the police reserve force, to fix the specific duties of its
members, and to provide for the maintenance of discipline. The chief
of police may change such orders from time to time, and he may place
members of the police reserve force under the authority of regular
police officers.
(c)
The
chief of police may prescribe other duties other than those mentioned
herein to be performed by the police reserve force, not inconsistent
with provisions of the enabling statute, section 341.012, Local Government
Code.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
An identification card and other insignia or evidence of identity
as the chief may prescribe shall be issued to each new member, who
must carry the card and other identification at all times while on
duty and must surrender them upon termination of his or her membership.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
Membership of any person may be terminated by the chief of police
at any time. Any member may resign from the police reserve force at
any time, but it shall be the duty of said member to notify the chief
of police of his or her resignation.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
The chief of police may, by order, diminish membership of the
police reserve force as may be required.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
(a)
Carrying of weapons.
On approval of the appointment
of a member who is a peace officer as described by article 2.12, Code
of Criminal Procedure, the chief of police may authorize the person
appointed to carry a weapon or act as a peace officer at all times,
regardless of whether the person is engaged in the actual discharge
of official duties, or may limit the authority of the person to carry
a weapon or act as a peace officer to only those times during which
the person is engaged in the actual discharge of official duties.
A reserve police officer, regardless of whether the reserve police
officer is a peace officer as described by article 2.12, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is not:
(b)
Training.
Members shall have fulfilled the minimum training
standards established by the state commission on law enforcement officer
standards and education for certification as a regular peace officer
and such other training as prescribed by the city council and chief
of police.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
It is expected that members of the police reserve force shall
serve pro bono; however, the city council may provide remuneration
for their services as may be set by the city council from time to
time, without obligation of the city to do so.
(Ordinance adopting Code)
