There shall be a Police Department, the head
of which shall be the Police Chief who shall be appointed by the Town
Manager. There shall also be a Dog Constable who shall be appointed
by the Town Manager, but who shall be directly responsible to the
Chief of Police.
The number of regular and special policemen,
including special fire policemen, shall be determined by, and each
such policeman shall be appointed by, the Town Manager, except as
he may delegate the appointive power to the Police Chief. Special
policemen shall have all the powers vested in the regular Town policemen;
said special policemen shall, however, serve only when and as specifically
required by the Police Chief and shall function only under the direction
of the Police Chief; they shall assist the Police Chief whenever called
upon and, whenever so called, shall be compensated for services rendered,
as the Town Manager may determine. No special policeman shall be on
duty as a special policeman at any time or place without being ordered
to do so by the Police Chief, and no special policeman shall be paid
for police services directly by any person other than the appropriate
Town official.
The Police Chief shall be the commanding officer
of the police force. He shall:
A. Be responsible for the enforcement of law and order.
B. Direct the police work of the Town.
C. Cause the streets, ways and lands of the Town to be
inspected regularly and cause to be removed all nuisances, obstruction
or impediments therein, causing offenders to be prosecuted and when
necessary to abate such nuisances.
D. Be responsible for the maintenance and care of all
property used by the Police Department.
E. Investigate or cause to be investigated the cause
and circumstances of any accident occurring for which the Town may
be liable, instruct all police officers to report to him such accidents
and notify the Town Manager promptly of all such accidents. Whenever
the attention of any police officer shall in any manner have been
called to any accident for which the Town may be liable, it shall
be the duty of such police officer forthwith to communicate such facts
and information as he may have to the Police Chief.
F. Investigate promptly all applicants for any license
or permit when such application requires certification by the Police
Chief and either deliver promptly to the Town Clerk a certificate
approving such license or permit or promptly advise the Town Clerk
of his refusal to so certify.
The Town Manager shall designate one or more
police officers to be titled Dog Constable, whose duties shall be
to enforce state and local laws regarding dogs.