The city council hereby creates a public safety department for the city. The public safety department shall consist of a city police force, a police reserve force, and when appointed by the mayor, a special police force. The mayor is authorized and directed to employ a qualified person to serve as chief of police, subject to confirmation by the city council. It shall be the duty of the chief of police and police officers to enforce the constitution and laws of the United States of America, of the state, and of the city, and to carry out the city council’s policies for the public safety department. The chief of police shall be the chief administrative officer for the public safety department and shall report to and work under the direct supervision of the city administrator.
(1996 Code, sec. 50-31)
(a) 
The city hereby establishes a permanent police force consisting of peace officers within the meaning of Vernon’s Annotated C.C.P. article 2.12, as amended.
(b) 
Each city police officer shall meet all of the qualifications prescribed by law for a peace officer, including those provided by V.T.C.A., Occupations Code chapter 1701 (Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education), with respect to any person who is employed, appointed or confirmed as a city police officer who does not at the time of such employment, appointment or confirmation have a license as provided in V.T.C.A., Occupations Code section 1701.301. The employment, appointment or confirmation of such person shall be, and shall be deemed whether or not expressly so stated, on a temporary or probationary basis.
(c) 
A police officer need not be a resident of the city at the time of his employment, appointment or confirmation; nor need he thereafter be a resident of the city.
(d) 
Members of the police force shall be appointed at the discretion of the chief of police subject to confirmation by the city council. The city council shall limit the size of the police force.
(e) 
Police officers so appointed shall receive a salary or fees of office, or both, that shall be fixed by resolution of the city council.
(f) 
Police officers shall hold their office at the pleasure of the city council, and for such term as the council directs.
(g) 
Police officers shall give bond for the faithful performance of their duties, as the city council may require.
(h) 
Police officers shall have like powers, rights, authority and jurisdiction as are vested in city marshals by state law. Police officers may serve all process issuing out of the municipal court anywhere in the county.
(1996 Code, sec. 50-32)
(a) 
The city hereby establishes a police reserve force. The city council shall limit the size of the police reserve force.
(b) 
The members of the police reserve force shall be appointed at the discretion of the chief of police subject to confirmation by the city council, and shall serve as “peace officers” during the actual discharge of official duties. Each police reserve officer shall meet all of the qualifications prescribed by law for a peace officer, including those provided by V.T.C.A., Occupations Code chapter 1701; with respect to any person who is employed, appointed or confirmed as a city police reserve officer who does not at the time of such employment, appointment or confirmation have a license as provided in V.T.C.A., Occupations Code section 1701.301, such employment, appointment or confirmation of such person shall be, and shall be deemed whether or not expressly so stated, on a temporary or probationary basis.
(c) 
A reserve police officer need not be a resident of the city at the time of his employment, appointment or confirmation; nor need he thereafter be a resident of the city.
(d) 
No person appointed a police reserve officer may carry a weapon or otherwise act as a peace officer until he has been appointed or confirmed by the city council. After appointment or confirmation, the officer may carry a weapon only when authorized by the chief of police, and when discharging official duties as a duly constituted peace officer.
(e) 
Members of the police reserve force serve at the discretion of the chief of police and may be called into service at any time the chief of police considers it necessary to have additional officers to preserve the peace and enforce the law. Members of the police reserve force shall serve without compensation but the city may, by resolution, provide uniform compensation for members of the police reserve force. The city may, by resolution, provide hospital and medical assistance to a member of the police reserve force who sustains injury in the course of performing official duties in the same manner as provided by the city for a full-time police officer. Reserve police officers shall be eligible for death benefits as provided for by law.
(f) 
Reserve police officers shall act only in a supplementary capacity to the regular police force and shall in no case assume the full-time duties of regular police officers without first complying with all the requirements for such regular police officers.
(1996 Code, sec. 50-33)
Whenever the mayor deems it necessary, in order to enforce the laws of the city, to avert danger, or to protect life or property, in case of riot or any outbreak or calamity or public disturbance, or when he has reason to fear any serious violation of law or order, or any outbreak or any other danger to the city, or the inhabitants thereof, the mayor shall summon into service as a special police force, all or as many of the residents as in his judgment may be necessary. Such summons may be by proclamation or other order addressed to the citizens generally, or any subdivision thereof, or may be by personal notification. Such special police force, while in service, shall be subject to the orders of the mayor, shall perform such duties as he may require, and shall have the same powers while on duty as the regular police force of the city.
(1996 Code, sec. 50-34)