It shall be the duty of the City Engineer to ascertain from the applicant whether or not the applicant is complying with the provisions of this code, and it shall be his further duty to inspect the excavation made under the permit to ascertain whether or not the parties digging or excavating are complying with the provisions of this code. Said City Engineer is hereby given police power and has the power to arrest any person violating said provisions in regard to digging or excavating in the streets, alleys, parking strips or other public property belonging to the city, and it shall be the duty of said City Engineer to forthwith prosecute any person violating the provisions of this chapter or the city code in regard to digging or excavating as herein set forth.
('71 Code, § 9-1-4)