(a) 
Department established.
The city council is empowered to establish and maintain a police department and to provide for the direction, organization, and staffing thereof, and to fix the salaries therefor. There is hereby created and established the police department of the city. The council may abolish or combine one or more departments created by it and may assign or transfer duties of any department of the city from one department to another, by ordinance.
(b) 
Composition; appointment and qualifications of chief.
(1) 
The police department shall consist of a chief of police and as many peace officers as the city council shall authorize and direct by budget approval or other ordinance.
(2) 
In addition to those requirements established by charter, to oversee the police department, a chief of police shall also meet the following minimum requirements:
(A) 
Must meet the minimum standards for initial licensure;
(B) 
Must have at least five years of bona fide law enforcement experience;
(C) 
Must hold at least a basic certificate issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE);
(D) 
Shall have demonstrated a competency in personnel and department management;
(E) 
Shall coordinate the appropriate budgeting, staffing and training of the department with the city manager to ensure that all requirements established by the city council are met and maintained; and
(F) 
Shall not hold any other law enforcement related off-duty employment outside of the city and/or the city’s ETJ, except when working in conjunction with another jurisdiction’s regular law enforcement agency.
(c) 
Officer positions.
The chief of police will have authority to create, establish, and define the varying officer positions by departmental policy as authorized and approved by the city council. The peace officers must meet the minimum standards for initial licensure as established in state law.
(d) 
Powers of members.
The members of the police department appointed pursuant to this section shall have all the powers, rights, and authorities vested in police officers pursuant to the common law and state statutes.
(Ordinance 1207 adopted 10/17/19)
(a) 
No person shall be allowed to serve as chief of police or in any other officer position unless the person meets the minimum standards for initial licensure, and all department personnel shall be subject to all provisions of the city personnel policy and pay classification plan as are other city employees.
(b) 
The chief of police and any other officer shall comply with the minimum training standards established by the state commission on law enforcement officer standards and education established for all peace officers. The chief of police shall establish the qualifications and standards of training for members of the police department and shall establish rules and regulations governing police officers as authorized and approved by city council.
(c) 
The chief of police shall establish minimum physical, mental, educational and moral standards for members of the police department, but in no case shall the standards, when applicable, be less than that established by the state commission on law enforcement officer standards and education.
(Ordinance 1207 adopted 10/17/19)
In time of danger or emergency, the mayor may, with the consent of the city council, take command of the police, and govern the city by proclamation, and maintain order and enforce all laws, to the extent authorized by state law.
(Ordinance 1207 adopted 10/17/19)
The chief of police shall supervise the daily operations of the police department. The duties of the chief shall consist of the following:
(1) 
The chief shall manage the daily operation of the police department; and the chief shall supervise all department personnel.
(2) 
The chief shall prepare the proposals for the police department budget, which are submitted to the city manager and city council.
(3) 
The chief shall provide oral and/or written reports to the city manager and/or city council when requested or required in order to ensure that proper communication exists between the city manager and/or city council and the police department.
(4) 
The chief shall be responsible for all departmental expenditures, disbursements, and collected funds in accordance with the laws and statutes of the state and the city.
(5) 
The chief shall oversee and be responsible for all equipment, vehicles and capital assets assigned to the police department.
(6) 
The chief shall establish comprehensive operational policies for the police department and as authorized and approved by the city council. Such policies shall be regularly reviewed and updated to maintain best practices, and as recommended by the Texas Police Chiefs Association and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or comparable equivalent. At a minimum, department policies shall be reviewed and submitted to the city council for approval not later than December 31st of any year in which the state legislature convenes in session.
(7) 
The chief shall establish weapons and ammunition specifications for the police department. The officers of the police department shall carry only those weapons and ammunition as authorized by the chief.
(8) 
The chief shall be in charge of all reserve officers within the police department.
(9) 
The chief shall be responsible for all training programs and training records for department personnel.
(10) 
The chief shall be responsible for and have authority to maintain the discipline of departmental personnel and to assign shifts and duties of all departmental personnel.
(11) 
The chief shall represent the police department and city at local events that he and/or the city council deems appropriate and promote a positive image of, and good community relations between the public and the police department.
(12) 
In addition to maintaining proficiency in peace officer certification, the chief shall complete any management training completed by other department heads within the city, as recommended by the city manager and authorized by the city council.
(Ordinance 1207 adopted 10/17/19)