The chief of police and any policemen are hereby authorized and empowered to direct, control, restrict, and regulate, in the interest of public safety, health, and convenience, the movement of pedestrians, vehicles, and traffic of every kind within the town, and may, when necessary to protect the safety or welfare of the inhabitants of the town, temporarily divert or exclude all such traffic from any public highway within the town. (1977 Code § 10.04.040)