It is the intent of the town to restructure the police department as it currently exists, effective October 1, 2011. The purpose of the restructure is to allow the town to engage the services afforded by the County of Racine, which shall realize a significant cost savings to the town, and also improve service to the town. The town shall continue to employ a police chief pursuant to the terms of this ordinance. It is anticipated all current police officers of the town shall have the opportunity to apply for employment with the Racine County Sheriff’s Department.
The police department of the town shall consist of the chief of police. The chief shall receive compensation as determined by the town board and such compensation shall be in lieu of all special fees, rewards or remunerations arising from such police service, unless the board shall provide that a reward may be retained by the person entitled thereto.
(Prior code § 4.01)
A.
The chief of police shall be appointed by the town board and shall hold office during good behavior, subject only to suspension or removal for cause in accordance with state law. The town may elect to enter into such contracts for employment that it may, from time to time, deem appropriate.
B.
The chief of police shall be the executive officer of the department and shall operationally lead police services in the town, he may direct the services provided by the Racine County Sheriff’s Department (to the extent it does not interfere with the Department’s own rules, regulations and chain of command), shall take lead on incident command in the town, continue to manage and oversee the town water patrol, and shall be subject to such written orders as may be issued by the town board. The chief of police shall be responsible for maintaining order, enforcement of the laws of the state and the ordinances and regulations of the town. The chief may not engage in the discipline of Racine County Sheriff’s Department officers, but may engage in discipline of the water patrol officers.
The chief of police shall possess the powers and enjoy the privileges and be subject to the liabilities conferred and imposed by law upon constables and be taken to be included in all writs and papers addressed to constables; and shall make arrest with or without process and with reasonable diligence take before the proper court any person found within the town violating any law of the state or any ordinance of the town, and he may command all persons present in such case to assist him therein. Further duties and obligations shall be set forth in the town police department rules and regulations as promulgated from time to time by the chief of police or at the instruction of the town.
(Prior code § 4.06)