[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees
of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson: Art. I, 8-20-1979 by L.L. No.
9-1979; Art. II, 9-21-1987 by L.L. No. 6-1987. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 8-20-1979 as L.L. No. 9-1979]
The powers granted to the Mayor or Village Manager
of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson pursuant to § 209-m of
the General Municipal Law of the State of New York relating to the
requesting and granting of police assistance from and to other local
governments is hereby delegated to the Chief of Police.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Includes any police officer in command of the Police Department
of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson during the absence, illness or
disability of the Chief of Police or who is authorized by the rules
and regulations of the Police Department of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson
to exercise the powers of the Chief of Police in the absence or unavailability
of the Chief of Police or in emergency situations.
[Adopted 9-2-1987 by L.L. No. 6-1987; amended in its entirety 7-10-2023 by L.L. No. 14-2023]
A.
The Chief of Police is the chief executive officer
of the Police Department and is directly responsible to the Village
Manager. He or she shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation
of the Department within the guidelines established by the Board of
Trustees. The Chief shall supervise adherence to these rules and regulations
affecting police operations.
B.
The Chief may issue such further written instructions
for the guidance of members of the Department in the conduct of their
police duties as he or she may from time to time determine, and all
such instructions shall have the force and effect of orders and commands
of the Chief to each and every member of the Department. These instructions
shall make up the Department Operations Manual, over which the Chief
has authority to add, delete or revise material therein.
C.
The Chief shall also have direct supervision of the
entire police force and will be held responsible for the enforcement
of these rules and regulations for the preservation of order, the
Department Operations Manual and the enforcement of the laws and ordinances
of the village. He or she shall make and file with the Village Manager
a monthly and annual written report concerning the operation of the
Police Department in such form as the Village Manager shall prescribe.
D.
In the absence of the Chief of Police or his or her
inability to serve, the Chief shall designate a subordinate to command
the Department. If the Chief is unable to designate an Acting Chief,
the Village Manager shall designate an Acting Chief.
All members of the Police Department are subject to the rules
and regulations of the Village of Croton-on-Hudson Police Department
set forth at length in the Department Operations Manual. Failure to
conform to these rules and procedures will result in disciplinary
measures.
A.
The Chief of Police is responsible for discipline
within the Department. All disciplinary matters shall be conducted
in accordance with § 5711-q of the Unconsolidated Laws and
other applicable statutes. This authority is also conferred upon the
ranking officers who supervise other officers.
B.
The Chief of Police is authorized to dispose of minor
dereliction which he can correct or the recurrence of which he can
prevent by admonition or warning. A disorder or neglect to the prejudice
of good order, efficiency or discipline, though not specifically mentioned
in the Department Operations Manual, may be disposed through command
discipline mutually agreed to by the officer in question and the Chief
of Police.
C.
The Village Clerk shall maintain a personnel record
of each member of the Department, which shall show all disciplinary
action and all commendations. The review of a member's personnel record
shall be in accordance with the regulations set forth in the union
contract.
D.
Any suspended officer shall immediately deliver to
the Chief of Police or the ranking officer on duty all village property
in his or her possession.
E.
A citizen's complaint against a member of the force
must be referred to the Chief of Police. If the complaint is against
the Chief of Police, it shall be investigated by the Village Manager.
If it is against any other member of the force, it shall be investigated
by the Chief of Police, and his report thereon shall be filed with
the Village Manager. If the Chief of Police determines from such investigation
that charges should be preferred against such member of the force,
he shall do so.
F.
Repeated failure to follow proper police procedure
may be considered evidence of unsuitability for police service.
G.
Any officer acting in an insubordinate, disrespectful
or grossly unprofessional manner may be suspended on the spot by the
Chief or the ranking officer in charge.
