(A) There is hereby established within and for the city a Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners to consist of three members to be appointed by the Mayor. The Commissioners to be so appointed shall be of good moral character who are citizens of the State of Indiana and residents of the city. The appointments shall be for such term as the Mayor shall deem appropriate and shall in no event be appointed for a term beyond the term that the appointing Mayor has in office. Each of the Commissioners shall be subject to removal by the Mayor for cause which the Mayor may deem sufficient. Such cause shall be in writing and filed with the City Council at the time of such dismissal. Each of the Commissioners, before entering upon their duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath of office with the Clerk-Treasurer and shall also take and subscribe before the Clerk, the further oath or affirmation that in any and every appointment or removal to be made by them, to or from the Police Force of the city, they shall in no case and under no pretext, appoint or remove any police officer, officer, police or other person because of any political feeling held by such police officer, officer or other person, or for any cause or reason other than that of fitness or unfitness of such person, in the best judgment of the Commissioners and as prescribed by Indiana law. Such oath or affirmation shall be recorded in the records of the Clerk-Treasurer’s office of the city, and the Police Commissioner shall also give bond, payable to the State of Indiana, conditioned for the faithful and honest discharge of their duties, which bond shall be approved by the Common Council. The salary of the Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners shall be fixed by the Common Council, such salary to be budgeted by the Metropolitan Police Board and as approved by the Common Council, all on dates and times as prescribed by Indiana law.
(B) The Commissioners shall appoint one of their members to act as President, who shall conduct the meetings of the Board. Other officers may be appointed by the Metropolitan Police Commissioners, as vice-commissioners, as deemed appropriate. The Board shall appoint a Secretary and Property Clerk, who shall give bond to the Commissioners in an amount in which such surety may be approved by them, conditioned for the safekeeping by said Secretary of the records of the Board, and also of any property under the Secretary’s control.
(C) The Mayor shall appoint the Chief of Police for the city and for the Police Force of the city. The Board shall otherwise establish a budget and operate the Police Department, including the hiring or dismissal of other department personnel in any disciplinary action as may be required as provided by law, all of which shall be subject to the appropriation of funds by the Common Council.
(D) All laws of the state applicable to the Police Force and Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners, and all ordinances of the city not in conflict herewith as are applicable to the Police Force and to the Metropolitan Police Board shall continue in full force and effect as they apply.
(‘85 Code, § 4.10) (Ord. 23-1982, passed - -82)