(a) The Police Chief has exclusive authority over the stationing and transfer of all deputies, officers, and employees within the Police Department, under such general rules as the Mayor prescribes.
(b) The Chief has the exclusive right to suspend any of the deputies, officers, or employees in the Police Department who are under his management and control, for incompetence, gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, habitual drunkenness, failure to obey orders given them by the proper authority, or for any other reasonable or just cause.
(c) If an employee is suspended, the Chief shall immediately certify this fact in writing, together with the cause for the suspension to the Mayor and shall immediately serve a true copy of the charges upon the person against whom they are made. Within five days after receiving this certification, the Mayor shall inquire into the cause of the suspension and shall render a judgment on it. If the Mayor sustains the charges, his judgment may be for the person's suspension, reduction in rank, or removal from the Department.
(d) Suspensions of more than three days, reduction in rank, or removal from the Department may be appealed to Council within five days from the date of the Mayor's judgment. Council shall hear the appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The person against whom the judgment has been rendered may appear in person and by counsel at the hearing, examine all witnesses, and answer all charges against him.
(e) At the conclusion of the hearing, Council may dismiss the charges, uphold the Mayor's judgment, or modify the judgment to one of suspension for not more than sixty days, reduction in rank, or removal from the Department.
(f) Action of Council removing or suspending the accused from the Department requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members elected to it.
(g) In the case of removal from the Department, the person so removed may appeal on questions of law and fact, the Council's decision to the Court of Common Pleas. The appeal shall be taken within ten days from the date of the Council's findings.
(Ord. 2015-7-20. Passed 9-9-15.)