The night police is hereby authorized and empowered to arrest all persons in the city found in the act of violating any law or ordinance or assisting or abetting in any such violation or any person whom the officer has reasonable grounds to believe has been guilty of such violation and who is likely to escape before a complaint can be filed and a warrant issued for his or her arrest, and to take such person before the proper court for trial; or if such arrest shall take place in the nighttime or on Sunday, to take such person to the county jail or the city prison and there safely keep such person until the morning of the next secular day when such person shall be taken before such proper court for trial. He or she shall, at all times, while on duty, stand ready to preserve the peace and good order of the community and the enforcement of all the laws and ordinances of the city. He or she shall have power to summon as many persons to his or her assistance as may be necessary to enforce the laws and ordinances and to arrest a violator thereof and when no Chief of Police shall have been appointed for the city, he or she shall perform the duties of such office to the best of his or her skill and ability. He or she shall go on duty at the hour of 7:00 p.m. of each day and remain on duty until the hour of 5:00 a.m. of the next day, and at all times stand ready to respond to any call of the Mayor or of any member of the City Council to perform any act appertaining to the office of police or Chief of Police of the city.
(1974 Code, § 1-10-3)