§ 39. Police and fire departments; department of public safety.

There shall be a police department and a fire department, which may be incorporated into one department known as the "department of public safety," with the director therefor to be appointed by the city manager.

First.

(a)

Police department. The city manager shall, through the director of the department of public safety, if such department be established, appoint a chief of police whose duties and bond shall be such as the council may ordain. The city manager shall further, on nomination of the chief of police, through the director of the department of public safety, if such office be established, appoint such number of policemen as may be authorized by the council.

(b)

The chief of police and policemen appointed as hereinbefore provided, shall constitute the police force of the city and shall hold their respective positions during good behavior or until they are removed by the city manager.

(c)

The police force shall be under the control of the city manager for the purpose of enforcing peace and executing the laws of the state and ordinances of the city. It shall perform such other duties as the council may prescribe. For the purpose of enabling it to execute its duties, every member thereof is hereby made a conservator of the peace and endowed with the powers of a constable in criminal cases, and with such other powers under the laws of the state as may be necessary to the discharge of the duties of his office.

(d)

The director of the department of public safety, if such department be established, or the chief of police, if there be no such department, may, with the approval of the city manager, in time of public emergency or at such times as there are an insufficient number of regular policemen to preserve the peace, safety and good order of the community, appoint and equip a sufficient number of special policemen to preserve the peace, safety and good order of the community. The director of the department of public safety, if such department be established, or the chief of police, if there be no such department, shall also appoint such employees of the city as may be designated by the city manager to be special policemen who, while in the performance of their official duties, shall have the powers and duties of policemen. The director of the department of public safety, if such department be established, or the chief of police, if there be no such department, may, with the approval of the city manager, upon the application of any individual, firm or corporation showing the necessity thereof, appoint one or more special policemen to be paid by the applicant who shall have the powers and duties of policemen while in or on the premises of such applicant or in the actual performance of the duties for which employed. The appointment of any special policeman shall be revocable at any time by the director of the department of public safety, if such department be established, or by the chief of police, if there be no such department.

(e)

The pay of the said police and the said special police employed by the city shall be prescribed by the council, but the uniforms, rules and regulations of said police force and of all special police shall be prescribed by the city manager or by the director of public safety with the approval of the city manager.

Second.

(a)

Fire department. The city manager shall, through the director of the department of public safety, if such department be established, appoint a chief engineer of the fire department, whose pay, duties and bond shall be such as the council may ordain. The city manager shall further, upon the nomination of the chief engineer, appoint such number of firemen as may be authorized by the council. Vacancies in the force of firemen shall be filled in like manner. The chief engineer and firemen shall retain their positions during good behavior or until they are removed by the city manager.

(b)

The pay for the said members of the fire department shall be prescribed by the council, but the uniforms, rules and regulations of the said members of the fire department shall be prescribed by the city manager, or by the director of public safety with the approval of the city manager.

(Acts 1946, ch. 381, p. 721; Acts 1952, ch. 163, p. 176)

Cross reference— Department of public safety, § 2-189 et. seq.

(Acts 1946, ch. 381, p. 721; Acts 1952, ch. 163, p. 176)

Cross reference

Department of public safety, § 2-189 et. seq.