[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough of Columbia
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.
[Adopted 5-8-1978 by Ord. No. 548 (Ch. 61 of the 1971 Code)]
There is hereby created a Police Department
for Columbia Borough which shall consist of the Chief of Police, superior
officers and patrolmen.
All terms herein used in the masculine shall
be deemed to include the feminine.
All members of the Police Department shall be
termed "patrolmen," except those who may be designated by the Council
as superior officers, of which the following may be appointed to hold
such rank or designation and assignment during the pleasure of the
Council: Sergeants.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the
Department and have supervision over all officers and members thereof.
Following him in rank shall be the Sergeants and then patrolmen, in
order of seniority in each group.
The Borough Council may, subject to the civil
service provisions of the Borough Code, appoint, promote, remove,
suspend or reduce in rank suitable persons as Borough policemen.
The Chief of Police shall be the keeper of the
Borough jail and shall have custody of all persons incarcerated therein.
He shall keep such records and make such reports concerning the activities
of his Department as may be required by statute or by the Borough
Council. The Chief shall be responsible for the performance by the
Police Department of its functions, and all persons who are members
of the Police Department shall serve subject to the orders of the
Chief of Police.
It shall be the duty of all members of the Police
Department to see to the enforcement of all of the ordinances of the
Borough and all statutes applicable therein, and to preserve order
and prevent infractions of the law and arrest violators thereof.
With the approval of the Borough Council, the
Chief of Police may establish a traffic division or detective division
or other special division within the Police Department, assigning
such policemen to such division and designating such duties therefor
as may be deemed necessary.
It shall be the duty of every member of the
Police Department to conduct himself or herself in a proper and law-abiding
manner at all times and to avoid the use of unnecessary force. Each
member of the Department shall obey the orders and directions of his
superior.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any Borough policeman to
charge or accept any fee or other compensation in addition to his
salary for any service performed pertaining to the duties of his office
as policeman, except as provided herein.
B.
With the approval of the Borough Council, members
of the Police Department may be allowed court pay for attendance at
court proceedings and hearings.
C.
With the approval of the Borough Council, members
of the Police Department may receive payment for mileage for attendance
at approved training programs, court or hearing appearances or otherwise,
as specified by the Borough Council.
D.
For meritorious service rendered by any member of
the Police Department in the due discharge of his duty, the Borough
Council may permit such member to retain for his own benefit, so far
as he may be permitted by law, any reward or present tendered him
therefor.
The Chief of Police may make or prescribe such
rules and regulations as he shall deem advisable, and such rules,
when approved by the Borough Council, shall be binding on such members.
Such rules and regulations may cover, besides the conduct of the members,
uniforms and equipment to be worn or carried, hours of service, vacations
and all other similar matters necessary or desirable for the better
efficiency of the Department. Such rules and regulations must be consistent
with the ordinances of the Borough and the laws of the State of Pennsylvania,
and must be posted.
The Borough Council may appoint any suitable
person as a special policeman to serve for such term and on such conditions
as may be designated by the terms of such appointment. No such special
policeman shall be entitled to any compensation from the Borough unless
such compensation is ordered by the Council, nor shall such special
policeman be considered an employee of the Borough by reason of such
appointment. Appointments may be revoked at any time by the Council.
The Committee on Public Safety is hereby empowered
to secure such vehicles for the use of the Borough Police Department
as they deem necessary for the proper functioning of said Department.
A.
A temporary or Acting Chief of Police may be appointed
by the Borough Council under any of the following circumstances:
(1)
Should incapacity, illness or other involuntary cause
render the Chief of Police unable to fulfill his duties for a period
of time expected to be in excess of 30 days.
(2)
Should the Chief of Police voluntarily absent himself
from active duty for a period of time in excess of 30 days.
(3)
Should the Chief of Police resign or have his employment
terminated by Borough Council.
[Added 12-16-2003 by Ord. No. 726]
B.
Such temporary or Acting Chief of Police shall be
charged with the duties of the Chief of Police and shall exercise
the complete authority of the Chief of Police under this chapter.
C.
Such appointment may be terminated at any time by
the Borough Council and is not a provisional appointment or promotion
for purposes of the civil service provisions of the Borough Code.
[Adopted 11-12-2012 by Ord. No. 832]
Borough Council hereby authorizes its police officers to make
arrests without warrant upon probable cause when there is ongoing
conduct that imperils the personal security of any person or endangers
public or private property or when there are circumstances involving
violence, or the imminent threat of violence, or the danger that the
defendant might flee in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 8902.
If possible, the arresting officer should be in uniform or display
some badge of authority.
The police officers of the Borough of Columbia are directed
to follow all the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure regarding
making arrests and regarding the determination of whether probable
cause exists for the making of an arrest.
Any procedures and policies of the Bureau of Police for the
Borough of Columbia regarding when, where and how its officers are
authorized and entitled to make arrests upon probably cause, whether
with a warrant or without, are incorporated herein and are determined
to be the guidelines of the Borough of Columbia for making arrests
without warrant upon probable cause in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S.A.
§ 8902.
