Cross references – Police department designated as part of city's official safety program, SCC § 2.05.040; registration of bicycles with police department, SCC § 10.40.020.
State law reference – General powers and duties of local police force, Code of Virginia, § 15.2-1704.
The police department shall consist of a chief of police, such regular officers and employees as may be specified by the city manager and a reserve police force of volunteer policemen to supplement the staffing of the regular officers and employees.
Cross reference – Bond of chief of police, SCC § 2.15.010.
(Code 1964 § 21-1; Code 1985 § 20-12)
The police department shall be under the general supervision of the city manager pursuant to the ordinances of the city. The city manager, with the assistance of the chief of police, shall issue rules and regulations for the department, prescribe the uniforms and report to the city council from time to time on the operation of the department, and make suggestions for improvement as he may see fit.
(Code 1964 § 21-2; Code 1985 § 20-13)
(1) 
Subject to the provisions and limitations of appropriations of the annual budget, the city manager shall make appointments to the various positions of the police department. Such appointments shall be for indefinite terms and the appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the city manager.
(2) 
The city manager may, when he deems it necessary in an emergency, increase the number of officers in the police department to any extent the public necessity may require. He shall report any such increase and his reasons for so doing to the next regular meeting of the council.
(Code 1964 §§ 21-3, 21-4; Code 1985 § 20-14)
(1) 
The city manager, with the cooperation of the chief of police and subject to the restrictions of the law, shall establish standards for appointments to membership in the police department. No person shall be appointed to the police department who is known by the chief of police or the city manager to have been convicted of a felony or an offense involving domestic violence.
(2) 
Applicants for appointment to the police department shall be examined by some physician designated by the city manager and no such applicant shall be appointed, until the physician has certified that, in his opinion, the applicant is physically able to perform police duties. (Amended during the 2003 reformat; Code 1985, § 20-15; Code 1964, § 21-5).
(1) 
The chief of police shall be the chief executive officer of the police department and he shall, at all times, enforce the rules and regulations for the government of the department prescribed by the city manager, not inconsistent with the ordinances of the city. He shall have general charge of the peace and good order of the city, see to the observance of the ordinances of the city and laws of the state relative to it and, in any emergency, he may direct the whole police force, or any part thereof, to any place in the city he may deem proper. He shall give information to the city manager of the violation of the laws of the state and ordinances of the city concerning any matter of police regulations. He shall report all misconduct or neglect of duty by any officer, and shall pay frequent visits, at uncertain hours, to various portions of the city, and thus be able to supervise the conduct of all subordinates.
(2) 
The chief of police may call into service the reserve police force, or particular members thereof, as he may deem necessary:
(a) 
In time of public emergency;
(b) 
At such times as there are insufficient numbers of regular policemen to preserve the peace, safety and good order of the community; or
(c) 
At any time for the purpose of training such reserve policemen.
(Code 1964 § 21-8; Code 1985 § 20-16; Ord. 8-25-88)
The members of the police department shall endeavor to prevent the commission of offenses in the city, to preserve the good order and peace thereof and to secure its inhabitants from personal violence and their property from loss and injury. They shall earnestly endeavor, when any offense is committed in the city, to detect and arrest the offender, to enforce all laws of the state, ordinances of the city and rules and regulations prescribed by the department of health for the preservation of health.
(Code 1964 § 21-7; Code 1985 § 20-17)
(1) 
The Staunton police department is hereby authorized to establish a procedure whereby the owner, lessee, custodian, or person lawfully in charge, as those terms are used in Section 18.2-119 of the Code of Virginia, of any real property may designate the Staunton police department as a person lawfully in charge of the property for the purpose of forbidding another to go on or remain upon the lands, buildings, or premises of the owner as specified in the designation, pursuant to provisions of Section 15.2-1717.1 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, or subsequently amended.
(2) 
Such designation shall be in writing and shall be kept on file by the Staunton police department, in accordance with such procedure.
(Ord. 2011-05)
Police officers may engage in off-duty employment which may occasionally require the use of their police powers in the performance of such employment. All off-duty employment, whether requiring the use of such powers or not, shall be in accordance with rules and regulations set forth by the chief of police and approved by the city manager.
(Code 1985 § 20-20)