There is established and created a police department to be operated under the direction and control of the city's chief law enforcement officer, the police chief, subject to the supervision of the city mayor.
(Ord. 002-20 § 2; Ord. 017-23 § 7 (Exh. A))
The police chief shall be appointed by the city mayor, subject to approval by the city council, and may be removed by the city mayor. Removal shall be in accordance with the law and the policies of the city of Port Orchard. Pursuant to RCW 41.12.050, the position of police chief is excluded from civil service for city police.
(Ord. 002-20 § 2; Ord. 017-23 § 7 (Exh. A))
In addition to the police chief, the police department shall be staffed by regular commissioned personnel in such numbers and ranks as shall be deemed necessary by the city council pursuant to its adopted budget.
The department may be supplemented by such support personnel as would be required to aid in the everyday operations of a police department. Such support personnel shall not be commissioned officers.
(Ord. 002-20 § 2; Ord. 057-21 § 1; Ord. 033-22 § 1; Ord. 017-23 § 7 (Exh. A))
All persons hired as law enforcement officers for the Port Orchard police department shall be commissioned as police officers for the city of Port Orchard prior to being assigned to law enforcement duties. All personnel below the rank of chief shall be appointed and commissioned by the chief in accordance with the applicable law, ordinance, rule, or regulation relating to civil service except as exempted in accordance with RCW 41.12.050 and may be removed by the chief subject to any applicable law, ordinance, rule, or regulation then in force and effect. No police commission, regular, temporary or honorary, shall be issued to any person until such person has been certified for a regular or provisional appointment to fill an authorized personnel vacancy by the civil service commission in accordance with such rules and regulations relating to civil service then in force and effect.
(Ord. 002-20 § 2)
The police chief and all commissioned police personnel shall have the powers granted to them by state and local law and shall be responsible for those duties imposed by the laws of the state relating to police chief and law enforcement personnel for code cities. The chief and all law enforcement personnel shall have the power and duty to enforce the ordinances of the city and to perform other such services as the laws of the state or the ordinances of the city may now or hereafter require including acts authorized pursuant to the Inter-Local Cooperation Act, the Mutual Aid Peace Officers Powers Act, and pursuant to Chapters 10.93 and 39.34 RCW.
(Ord. 002-20 § 2; Ord. 017-23 § 7 (Exh. A))
All commissioned personnel, to include the police chief, shall be sworn in to enforce the ordinances of the city of Port Orchard, state and federal law, to protect the public peace and safety within the city of Port Orchard, and to abide by the code of professional conduct and responsibility for peace officers.
Prior to assuming a police commission, persons hired for a position that requires a commission will take an oath of office to enforce the law, uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the state of Washington, and shall make such oath before the mayor or a designee.
(Ord. 002-20 § 2; Ord. 017-23 § 7 (Exh. A))