The mayor shall be the presiding officer of the council, except that the council shall choose from its members a mayor pro tern who shall hold office at the pleasure of the council and shall serve as mayor in case of the mayor’s temporary disability or absence. The mayor or the mayor pro tem when acting in place of the mayor shall have a vote, as a member of the council, only in case of a tie. He shall exercise all powers and perform all duties conferred and imposed upon him by this charter, the ordinances of the City and the laws of the State. He shall be recognized as the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes, by the courts for the purpose of serving civil process, and by the governor for the purposes of martial law. He shall study the operations of the City government and shall report to the council any neglect, dereliction of duty, or waste on the part of any officer or department of the City. He shall be the chief executive officer of the City and shall have control of the police. In time of public danger or emergency he may take command of the police and maintain order.