The Police Department of the City is established to provide
for the preservation of peace and enforcement of law and ordinances
within the corporate limits of the City.
The Department consists of the Police Chief and such other law
enforcement officers and personnel, whether full- or part-time, as
may be authorized by resolution of the Council.
In no case shall any person be selected or appointed as a law
enforcement officer unless such person meets the minimum qualification
standards established by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.
All peace officers shall have received the minimum training
required by law at an approved law enforcement training school within
one year of employment. Peace officers shall also meet the minimum
in-service training as required by law.
The City Manager shall appoint the Police Chief, subject to
the approval of the Council, and the Police Chief shall select the
other members of the Department pursuant to Chapter 400 of the Code
of Iowa.
The Police Chief has the following powers and duties.
A. Control of Department. The general
control of the Police Department is vested in the Police Chief, who
shall be responsible for the governing, efficiency and good conduct
of the Department, subject to the orders of the Mayor and Council.
B. Rules and regulations. The Police
Chief, in the exercise of duties, shall have the power to prescribe,
promulgate and enforce rules and regulations for the governing of
the members and employees of the Department. These rules and regulations
shall not be inconsistent with this Code of Ordinances or the laws
of the state. The rules and regulations shall be filed with the Clerk
for distribution to the Council, which shall have the authority to
disapprove the same in the whole or part. The Clerk shall additionally
advise the Marion Civil Service Commission of the filing of the rules
and regulations.
C. Manual. The Police Chief shall
prepare a police manual or rules book setting forth the duties of
the members and employees of the Department. The manual or rules book
shall contain a general outline of the functions of the Police Department,
along with the rules of conduct and governance of the Department.
The manual or rules book shall be kept on file at the Department and
shall be filed with the Clerk for distribution to the Council, which
shall have the authority to disapprove the same in whole or part.
The Clerk shall additionally advise the Marion Civil Service Commission
of the filing of the manual.
D. Assisting Attorney. The Police
Chief shall assist the City Attorney in prosecuting any persons for
the violation of any ordinance by gathering all the facts and circumstances
surrounding the case.
E. Report to the Council. The Police
Chief, when requested, shall report to the Mayor, City Manager and
the Council upon the Police Chief's own activities as Police Chief.
F. Protect persons and property.
The Police Chief shall have the power to protect the rights of persons
and property, preserve order at all public gatherings, prevent, insofar
as possible, and abolish nuisances and protect persons against every
manner of disorder and offense.
G. Execute lawful orders. The Police
Chief shall execute all lawful orders of any board or commission established
in the City.
H. Aiding City officers. When requested,
the Police Chief shall aid other municipal officers in the execution
of their official duties.
I. Reports of motor vehicle accidents.
The Police Chief shall report motor vehicle accidents the Department
investigates in the regular course of duty to the Department of Transportation,
as required by law.
J. Record of arrests. The Police
Chief shall keep a record of all arrests made in the City by the Marion
Police Department. The Police Chief shall record whether the arrest
was made under provisions of the laws of the state or ordinances of
the City. The record shall show the offense for which the arrest was
made, who made the arrest and the disposition made of the charge.
K. Attendance at meetings. The Police
Chief or a designee of the Police Chief shall attend all regular meetings
of the Council and special meetings of the Council as requested.
Any peace officer making a legal arrest may orally summon as
many persons as the officer reasonably finds necessary to aid the
officer in making the arrest.
Any person who makes an arrest may take from the person arrested
all items which are capable of causing bodily harm which the arrested
person may have within such person's control, to be disposed of according
to law.