(A) The Town Marshal shall be the commanding officer of the entire Police Department, subject to the laws of the United States and the state, the ordinances of the town, the rules and regulations of the Town Council and the standard operating procedure of the Police Department. The Town Marshal shall be appointed by the Town Council for a term extending for four years, commencing January 1 and expiring December 31, 11:59 p.m., at the expiration of the fourth year of the appointed term.
(B) The Town Marshal is delegated the responsibility, by the Board, to administer the police function of the town through his or her Department, consistent with the policies of the Council, through the issuance of orders, directions and instructions to the officers of the Department, and to utilize both efficiency of manpower and equipment of the Department to the best of his or her ability.
(C) Officers of the Department shall obey the orders, directions and instructions of the Marshal to the best of their ability.
(D) The Marshal shall have the custody and control of all books, records, machines, tools, implements, apparatus or equipment of any kind necessary for use in the Department, and of all public property pertaining to, connected therewith or belonging thereto, including all property confiscated by the Department. The Marshal may call on officers of the Department to assist in this responsibility or may delegate certain of the responsibilities to the individual officers of the Department.
(E) The Marshal shall have the power to temporarily suspend any officer of the Department from duty for violations of rules and regulations of the Council, pending investigation and the filing of charges of the challenged violation with the Council, for a period not to exceed ten days.
(F) The Marshal shall issue general orders with approval of the Council. He or she shall issue special orders from time to time under circumstances or conditions requiring the proper government of the Department for the protection and maintenance of public order.
(G) Failure or refusal of any member of the Department to comply with the legal orders, directives and instructions from the Marshal shall constitute neglect or disobedience of orders. The Marshal shall avoid injury, degradation or discredit to subordinates in the presence of others whenever possible. Subordinates shall show him or her proper respect and shall carry out orders and directions from him or her.
(Prior Code, § 33.05) (Ord. 2018-03, passed 2-13-2018)
Statutory reference:
Town Marshal, see I.C. 36-5-7-1 et seq.