There having been previously created a Police
Department for the Township of Athens, the following article is adopted,
setting forth the respective duties and responsibilities of the Police
Department and the Chief of Police of Athens Township.
The duty of the Chief of Police is as follows:
A. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to assign
all patrolmen to their respective duties.
B. The Chief of Police shall be responsible for all reports
to the Board of Supervisors and for all reports that must be compiled
for the state and federal governments.
C. The Chief of Police will be aware of all arrests made
in the Township of Athens and will see that all citations and criminal
complaints are made out properly before going to a Magisterial District
Judge.
D. The Chief of Police shall be responsible for the action
of the members of the Department whenever applicable. He shall exercise
complete authority over them.
E. The Chief of Police shall be responsible to see that
all Department members are complying with the rules and regulations
and performing their proper duties.
F. The Chief of Police shall have direct control over
all Department property and personnel and shall have the right and
duty of disciplining members of the Police Department for violation
of the rules and regulations of the Department as set forth according
to law. A report of any action taken by the Police Chief shall be
forwarded to the Board of Supervisors within a period not in excess
of 10 days after the action shall be taken.
G. It shall be the duty of the Chief to compile a monthly
report of activities for the Department and forward the same to the
Board of Supervisors.
H. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to prepare
a yearly budget for the Department with a complete breakdown for each
expense.
I. The Chief of Police shall make himself available at
all times.
J. It shall be the duty of the Chief to see that all
personnel attend proper schooling when necessary and also to attempt
to provide any other schooling that may be available, subject to the
funding of the Board of Supervisors.
K. The Chief shall inspect all equipment within the Department
and see to its proper maintenance and repair.
L. It shall be the duty of the Chief to see that all
complaints and requests of Township residents are properly handled
by all members of the Police Department, except subject to the oversight
by the committee of Athens Township relating to the Police Department
Following shall be the duties of any patrolman
of Athens Township:
A. It shall be the duty of all patrolmen to enforce the
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the
Township of Athens.
B. While on duty, each officer shall conduct himself
in a courteous manner. All officers shall be in direct contact with
the officially designated Township police dispatcher at all times
either via radio or telephone unless otherwise directed by the Chief
of Police, in which case the Chief shall see that there is proper
coverage for all other problems that may arise.
C. All officers shall follow all orders given by the
Chief, whether verbal or in writing, and shall be subject to whatever
disciplinary action the Chief deems necessary for violation of any
order.
D. All complaints received shall be responded to in an
expedient manner. Each complaint shall be properly recorded with particular
attention to the time received, time of arrival and action taken.
Where follow-up is required, the officer shall take whatever steps
are necessary to properly conclude the complaint as soon as reasonably
possible. The written report shall be left in the office at all times
it is not being worked on and shall be turned over for departmental
filing when concluded.
E. All officers, while off duty, shall conduct themselves
as if they were on duty. They shall not do anything to submit the
Department to ridicule or embarrassment.
F. All officers shall cooperate with all local, county,
state and federal law enforcement officials.
G. All officers are subject to emergency duty when deemed
necessary by the Chief of Police.
H. All officers shall fully assist with requests from
the Fire Department for investigations or traffic control at scenes
of fires.
I. All officers shall report for court duty when summoned
or subpoenaed. All officers shall appear in District Justice Court
when they are properly notified.
J. Obedience to all laws of the commonwealth, including
laws relating to townships of the second class as they relate to police
officers, is expected under this article and any rules and regulations
adopted by Athens Township.
It is hereby provided that the Athens Township
Supervisors may at any time adopt such rules and regulations relating
to the Police Department, the Police Chief and patrolmen as may be
desirable and necessary for the fulfillment of their duties.