(A) A Police Department is hereby created which shall consist of the Chief of Police and such other members as are appointed in the manner provided by the laws of the State of Minnesota and the Charter and ordinances of the city.
(B) The Police Department shall enforce the ordinances of the city and laws of the State of Minnesota within its jurisdiction, prevent infractions of the law, protect the life, safety, and property of the citizens of Columbia Heights and preserve the general peace and good order of the city.
(C) The Police Department shall be under the direct administrative supervision and control of the Mayor and subject to the jurisdiction of the Joint Police and Fire Civil Service Commission, as thereinafter established.
(D) (1) The Chief of Police shall have supervision and control of all subordinate officers and members of the Department, subject to the authority of the Mayor. The Chief shall be guided by rules and regulations promulgated by the Mayor governing the administration and operation of the Department and the conduct of all members assigned thereto.
(2) The Chief shall ensure that all members of the Department are properly instructed in all relevant aspects of the law and trained in the proper techniques and methods to carry out such duties as they may be properly assigned.
(E) (1) Every member of the Police Department shall conduct himself in a proper and law-abiding manner at all times. Each member shall abide by all lawful orders and directions of superiors.
(2) Every police officer shall appear as a witness in a prosecution for a violation of an ordinance or of any state or federal law when so requested by the prosecuting attorney, unless excused from such duty by the Chief of Police. No officer appearing as a witness pursuant to this section shall retain any witness fee for service as a witness, and any fee shall be deposited with the City Treasurer. The aforementioned provisions shall in no way affect the manner of determining employee compensation and the amount thereof payable to officers for appearances made pursuant to this section.
(3) Every officer shall upon reasonable request provide his personal identification by name, badge number, or official identification number, unless assigned to duties that require concealment of the identity of the officer.
(F) The Police Department shall have the authority to impound vehicles under such circumstances and in the manner prescribed by Chapter 7, Article III of this code.
(G) Persons hired as community service officers in the Police Department are authorized to issue a citation in lieu of arrest or continued detention to persons violating the following sections of this code and the Minnesota Statutes, as they may be amended from time to time, to wit:
(1) Section 7.202(B), Overtime Parking in Public Parking Areas.
(2) Section 7.202(C), Loading Zones.
(3) Section 7.202(D), Bus Stops and Taxi Stands.
(4) Section 7.202(E), Metered Parking Areas.
(5) Section 7.202(F), Boulevard Parking.
(6) Section 7.202(F)(3)(c), Violation of a Boulevard Parking Permit.
(7) Section 7.202(I), Handicap Parking.
(8) Section 7.203(A), Temporary or Emergency No Parking (parades, and the like).
(9) Section 7.205(A), Six-hour Maximum Parking.
(10) Section 7.205(B), Parking in a Traffic Lane or in an Alley.
(11) Section 7.205(C), Abandoned Vehicle.
(12) Section 7.205(D), Fire Lanes or Other Parking Violations on Private Property.
(13) Section 7.205(G), Junk Vehicles.
(14) Section 7.205(K), Obstruct Traffic in a Private Parking Lot.
(15) Section 7.205(L), Overtime Parking in a Private Parking Lot.
(16) Section 7.205(M), No Parking 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.
(17) Section 7.205(N), No Parking April 1 to May 1 when 3 1/2 inches or more of snow on the street.
(18) Section 7.401(A), Bicycle Registration.
(19) Section 7.402(B), Bicycle Lights and Reflectors.
(20) Section 7.402(C), Miscellaneous Bicycle Violations.
(21) Chapter 8, Article I, Animal Violations.
(22) Section 8.204(R), Unauthorized Signs in the public right-of-way.
(23) Section 7.205(G), Junk Vehicles.
(24) Section 7.401(C), Bicycle Impound.
(25) Section 10.201(A), Parking in a Park 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
(26) Section 10.201(L), Pets on Leash when in City Park.
(27) M.S. § 169.34, Miscellaneous Parking Violations.
(28) M.S. § 169.346, Handicap Parking.
(29) M.S. § 169.34, Parallel Curb Parking.
(30) M.S. § 169.222, Operation of Bicycles.
(31) M.S. § 346.57(1), Animal in Motor Vehicles, Endangered.
(32) M.S. § 346.57(2), Animal in Motor Vehicle May Be Removed.
(33) M.S. Chapter 343, Animal Cruelty.
(34) M.S. § 609.675, Refrigerator, Exposure of Unused/Unsafe.
(35) M.S. § 115A.916, Used Oil Land Disposal.
(36) M.S. § 168.03, Abandoned Motor Vehicle.
(37) M.S. § 168.09, Expired License Plates.
(38) Section 5A.207(C)(1), Park on Landscaped Area.
(39) M.S. § 169.35(1), Parked More than 12 Inches from Curb.
(40) Section 7.204(H), Parked Over Weight 15,000 lbs.
(41) Section 8.301(G), Garbage and Rubbish.
(42) Section 8.204(D), Noise and Odors.
(43) Section 5A.207(G), Outside Storage of Materials.
(44) Section 5.607(B), Too Many Animals (No Kennel License).
(45) M.S. § 169.041, Tow Authority.
(46) 7.301(A)(2), Tow Authority, Abandoned.
(47) Section 7.301(A)(3), Tow Authority, Fire Lane or Hydrant.
(48) Section 7.301(A)(1), Tow Authority, Snow.
(49) M.S. § 169.35, Parked Wrong Side of Street.
(H) (1) The Chief of Police is authorized to administer the disposal of property lawfully coming into the possession of the city and remaining unclaimed by the owner after 60 days. The property may be used by the city for its own purposes, or, sold to the highest bidder at a public auction, or, if determined by the Chief of Police to have not value, destroyed.
(2) A notice specifying the date, time, and place of any auction or sale shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation throughout the city at least one week prior to such auction or sale.
(3) The new proceeds of the auction or sale shall be placed in the city's General Fund, subject to the right of the former owner to payment of the new proceeds upon application and presentation of satisfactory proof of ownership within six months of sale. Net proceeds means the sale price less all costs of handling, publishing, storage or sale of the item. The city may, at its discretion, bill the owner for any costs that exceed the revenues derived from the disposal.
(`77 Code, § 3.203) (Ord. 1160, passed 3-28-88; Am. Ord. 1282, passed 2-28-94; Am. Ord. 1433, passed 7-23-01; Am. Ord. 1454, passed 3-24-03)