Town of North Branford, CT Chapter 77 Police Commissioners, Board of

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of North Branford 7-17-1969, effective 10-10-1969; amended in its entirety 7-11-1995 by Ord. No. 183. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 77-1 Creation; purpose.

There is hereby created a Board of Police Commissioners for the Town of North Branford for the purpose of organizing and maintaining a Police Department in said town.

§ 77-2 Membership; terms of office.

There shall be appointed one member every year for a term of five years, so that said Board of Police Commissioners shall consist of five members, subject to minority representation as provided in § C5-3 of the Charter.

§ 77-3 Expiration of term of office; vacancies.

Pursuant to §§ C5-1, C5-3 and C5-4 of the Charter, vacancies shall be filled only for the unexpired portion of the term of such office. Any vacancy shall be filled within 45 days.

§ 77-4 Officers; meetings; records; quorum.

Said Board shall elect one of its number to be Chairman, one member to be Vice Chairman and one member to be Clerk and shall hold regular meetings and keep a record of the same. Meetings shall be called upon the call of the Chairman or of a majority of the members of the Board. A majority shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.

§ 77-5 Compensation.

Said Commissioners shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties and shall serve without compensation.

§ 77-6 Expenses to be paid by town.

The expenses, salaries established in accordance with the collective bargaining process or the town's merit pay plan and all costs of maintenance and equipment for the Police Department shall be paid by the town in the same manner and subject to the same budgetary process as set forth in Article VIII of the Charter, as other expenses of town government. With respect to the salary for the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police, the Town Council shall accept the recommendation of the Police Commission unless, in the sole discretion of the Town Council, it determines that the public interest and the financial capability of the town, including consideration of other demands on the financial capability of the town, requires compensation in a lesser amount. All other benefits shall be provided to the Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of Police in accordance with the Town of North Branford Administrators' Benefits Policy, adopted by the North Branford Town Council on December 19, 1989, as revised to July 1, 1994, and as may further be revised from time to time.

§ 77-7 Board to have general management and control of Police Department.

Said Board shall have general management and control of the Police Department of the town and shall purchase all equipment for the Department subject to the budgetary process as set forth in Article VIII of the Charter.

§ 77-8 Police Department responsibilities.

Pursuant to § 7-9 hereof, said Board shall have general management and supervision of the Police Department, which shall be responsible for preservation of the public peace, prevention of crime, apprehension of criminals, regulation of traffic, protection of rights of person and property and the enforcement of the laws of the state and ordinances of the town, and all rules and regulations made in accordance therewith.

§ 77-9 Powers of Commissioners.

[Amended 4-3-2001 by Ord. No. 223]

The Board of Police Commissioners shall have general management and supervision of the Police Department of the town and of the property and equipment used in connection therewith, shall make all needful regulations for the government thereof not contrary to state or local law and may prescribe suitable penalties for the violation of any such regulation, including suspension or removal from office of any officer or member of such Police Department, subject to Article IX of the Town Charter, including the personnel rules and regulations approved by the Town Council pursuant thereto. Such Board shall have the sole power of appointment, promotion and removal of the officers and members of such Police Department, subject to such personnel rules and regulations as adopted by the Town Council pursuant to Article IX of the Charter for such purpose; such appointees shall hold office during good behavior and until removed for cause upon written charges and after hearing. Police officers and constables in the Town of North Branford shall have all such authority with respect to the service of criminal process and the enforcement of the criminal laws as vested by the General Statutes in police officers and constables. For purposes of this chapter, "members" of the Police Department shall include police officers, dispatchers, the Canine Control Officer and the secretary to the Chief of Police.

§ 77-10 Hearing prior to dismissal of municipal police head; just cause requirement; appeal.

No active head of the Police Department shall be dismissed without just cause and without having been given notice in writing of the specific grounds for such dismissal and an opportunity to be heard in his or her own defense, personally or by counsel, at a public hearing before the dismissing authority. Such person shall further be afforded all substantive and procedural rights as provided for in § 7-278 of the Connecticut General Statutes.