§ 27-25 POLICE OFFICER SELECTION PROCEDURE; OATH.

   The members of the police department, other than the chief of police, shall be selected from a list of eligibles prepared by the civil service commission, and in accordance with such rules and regulations as the civil service commission may prescribe; provided, that in case of riot or emergency the city manager or the chief of police may appoint additional patrol officers and officers for temporary service, who need not be in the classified service. Each member of the department of police, both rank and file, shall have issued to him or her a warrant of appointment, signed by the city manager and the police chief, in which the date of his or her appointment shall be stated, and such shall be his commission. Each member of the department of police shall, before entering upon his or her duties, subscribe to an oath that he or she will faithfully, without fear or favor, perform the duties of his or her office, and such oath shall be filed and preserved with the records of the department.

(1964 Code, § 29A-3) (Ord. 8433, § 2, passed 9-19-1981; Ord. 21710-04-2015, § 1, passed 4-7-2015)

§ 27-26 APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL OFFICERS.

   No person, except as otherwise provided by general law or ordinance, shall act as special police or special detective, except upon written authority from the city manager. Such authority, when conferred, shall be exercised only under the direction and control of the chief of police and for the time specified in the appointment.

(1964 Code, § 29A-3.1) (Ord. 8433, § 2, passed 9-19-1981)

§ 27-27 POWERS AND DUTIES GENERALLY; CITY JAIL.

   (a)   The officers constituting the department of police of the city shall be and they are hereby invested with all the power and authority given to them as peace officers under the laws of the state in taking cognizance of, and in enforcing the criminal laws of the state and the ordinances and regulations of the city within the limits of the city, and it shall be the duty of each such officer to use his or her best endeavors to prevent the commission within the city of offenses against the laws of the state, and against the ordinances and regulations of the city; to observe and enforce all such laws, ordinances and regulations; to detect and arrest offenders against the same; to preserve the good order of the city, and to secure the inhabitants thereof from violence, and the property therein from injury. Such police officers shall have no power or authority in civil matters, but shall execute any criminal warrant or warrant of arrest that may be placed in their hands by the duly constituted authorities of the city. Such police officer shall receive only such compensation as is determined by the city council in accordance with all state and local enactments controlling the same. However, this provision shall not prevent a member of the police department from accepting an award from a nonprofit police award foundation.

   (b)   Subject to the direction of the city manager, the chief of police shall have control and management of the city jail so long as the city operates a jail.

(1964 Code, § 29A-3.2) (Ord. 8433, § 2, passed 9-19-1981)

§ 27-28 ASSIGNMENT PAY; BILINGUAL PERSONNEL.

   (a)   The chief of police may designate certain police officers in the police department as bilingual personnel who, in addition to their regular duties, will perform certain specialized functions. Bilingual personnel so assigned will comply with the following for the department:

      (1)   BILINGUAL PERSONNEL means a police officer who, in the performance of the officer's duties, is capable of effectively translating a language used by the residents of Fort Worth into English and English into the same language, orally and/or in writing.

      (2)   To be eligible for bilingual skills pay, the officer must take and pass a language proficiency test administered by the human resources department. If a language proficiency test is not available through human resources, employees must provide an appropriate certification from an accredited agency or institution to be eligible for bilingual skills pay.

      (3)   Upon request, employees receiving bilingual pay are expected to assist other departments with translation. Refusal to assist may result in the loss of bilingual pay. Bilingual pay can be discontinued at any time at the discretion of the chief of police or designee as long as the employee no longer uses bilingual skills in the performance of their essential job functions.

   (b)   A Bilingual personnel who has been designated by the chief of police will be compensated the sum of $100 per month for the use of verbal skills and an additional $25 per month for the use of writing skills for a total of $125 per month as assignment pay, in addition to that individual's regular pay.

(Ord. 9865, § 1, passed 4-27-1987; Ord. 21708-03-2015, § 1, passed 3-24-2015)

§ 27-29 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS.

   (a)   The police chief may designate officers from the classification of police officer, who, in addition to their regular duties, will be assigned the duties of community relations officers, and who will perform the following functions with the department:

      (1)   Conduct or participate in citizen meetings for the purpose of providing information, answering questions and explaining department procedures or actions;

      (2)   Provide for citizens’ expertise and guidance in crime prevention techniques;

      (3)   Represent the police department at public functions; and

      (4)   Perform other specialized duties as assigned by the police chief.

   (b)   Police officers who perform the above specialized functions shall each receive pay in addition to their regular pay the sum of $120 per month as assignment pay.

(Ord. 9972, § 1, passed 9-29-1987)

Editor’s note:

Ord. 9972, § 1, adopted Sept. 29, 1987, added provisions designated as § 27-28. Said provisions have been redesignated as § 27-29 in order to avoid duplication of section numbers, at the editor’s discretion.