(A) The Chief of Police shall be the commanding officer of the entire Department, subject to the laws of the United States, to the laws of the state, to the ordinances of the city, and to the rules and regulations of the Board of Public Works and Safety.
(B) The Chief is delegated, by the Board of Public Works and Safety, the responsibility to administer the police function of the city through his or her Department, consistent with the policies of the Board, 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 such orders, directions, and instructions of the Chief to the best of their ability.
(D) The Chief 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 and connected therewith or belonging thereto, including all property confiscated by the Department. The Chief 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 Chief shall have the power to temporarily suspend any police officer or civilian employee of the Department from duty for violations of rules and regulations of the Board pending investigation and the filing of charges of such challenged violation with the Board for a period not to exceed five days.
(F) The Chief shall issue departmental policies and procedures in writing and shall issue special orders, from time to time, under circumstances or conditions requiring the proper government of the Department for protection and maintenance of public order.
(G) Failure or refusal of any member of the Department to comply with such legal orders, directives, policies, and procedures from the Chief shall constitute neglect or disobedience of orders. He or she 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 of the Chief.
(Ord. 1974-1, passed 1-24-1974; Ord. 1995-1, passed 1-26-1995)
Statutory reference:
Duties of police officers, see I.C. 36-8-3-6