(A) Office established. There is hereby established the office of Chief of Police, pursuant to KRS 83A.080, who shall take the oath of office prior to assuming his or her office.
(B) Full-time. The Chief of Police shall be a full-time officer.
(C) Minimum requirement. The minimum requirements for the Chief of Police shall include the following.
(1) Training and experience.
(a) Experience in modern police work, including supervision and responsibility;
(b) An associate’s degree or additional higher education, supplemented by formal training in modern police administration and in scientific methods of crime prevention and detection or the equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities;
(c) Minimum of 15-years’ experience as a full-time police officer with experience in command/top management position;
(d) Certified or certifiable under the KLEFP Fund; and
(e) Active participant and experience in and involvement with active patrol functions.
(2) Special knowledge, skills, and abilities.
(a) Thorough knowledge of the laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations affecting the official capacity and operations of the Department and the city;
(b) Thorough knowledge of modern police practices and techniques of crime detection, criminal identification, and radio communication;
(c) Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of modern police administration;
(d) Thorough knowledge of the geographical characteristics and road networks of the city and contiguous areas;
(e) Considerable knowledge of printed matter and sources of information on police-related matters;
(f) Ability to carry out special and general assignments requiring organization analysis and development of procedures and methods to maintain and approve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Police Department;
(g) Ability to prepare and present clear and concise reports of Department activities orally and in writing;
(h) Ability to command others and to plan, assign, supervise, and review their work in a manner conducive to obtaining, full performance and high morals;
(i) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, city officials, and the general public;
(j) Skill in the safe and proper use of firearms and equipment used in modern police work; and
(k) Possess equanimity and the physical strength and ability to perform the duties of the position.
(D) Duties. The duties of Chief of Police shall include:
(1) Having full authority and responsibility for the financial and other management, direction, and control of the operations and administration of the Police Department;
(2) Planning, organizing, directing, and coordinating the activities of the Police Department within the scope of accepted police techniques in guiding laws, ordinances, and other regulations effective in the city to prevent crime and protect life and property;
(3) Training and supervising all subordinate officers, as well as the administrative staff; and
(4) Receiving general supervision from the Mayor and Council who review the Department through reports, conferences, appraisals of the general effectiveness of police work in the city, and public reaction to services received.
(5) Presenting, before July 1 of each year, Police Department goals and objectives to Council for its consideration. This shall include providing Council with a written accounting of the status of the previous year's goals.
(6) Preparing the Police Department's annual proposed budget for Council's review and approval.
(7) Making all operational and expenditure decisions for the Police Department, upon Council's approval of the Police Department's budget.
(8) Making recommendations to the Mayor for decisions going to employment within the Police Department, including hiring and firing.
(9) Controlling the use of all Police Department equipment, subject to the policies, rules, and regulations adopted by the city or determined by state statute.
(10) Meeting with the Mayor as often as necessary, but not less than quarterly, to review the Police Chief’s performance as Chief of Police and to discuss issues, concerns, problems, and general progress within the Department.
(11) Attending all regularly scheduled monthly Council meetings, and presenting a written report describing activities, events, projects, and concerns of the Police Department.
(12) Before taking any leave, designating the Lieutenant or a replacement to be the “Officer in Charge of the Police Department.”
(E) Extent of services.
(1) The Chief of Police shall not engage in any outside part-time employment unless he or she obtains prior written approval from the Mayor. The Mayor shall not unreasonably withhold such approval if, in his or her sole judgment, he or she determines such outside employment will not impair the Chief of Police's ability to fulfill his or her responsibilities as Chief, and no real or apparent conflict of interest or adverse public perception will arise from the Chief of Police engaging in the proposed part-time outside employment.
(2) The position of Chief of Police is exempt from the overtime provisions of the applicable federal and state law, and the Chief of Police is therefore not eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time for hours worked in excess of the Department's standard work week.
(3) Although the Chief of Police's normal work schedule shall consist of a 40-hour work week, the Chief s schedule may be flexible when appropriate. The Chief of Police must set his or her schedule to have the least adverse impact on the operations of the Department.
(4) If the Chief of Police is not readily available to respond to a situation that calls for directions to be given to the Department's officers or employees, the next senior ranking officer shall be the authorized representative of the Police Department until the Chief of Police becomes available to assume command.
(F) Dues and subscriptions. Subject to monies authorized by the City Council through the budget and the approval of the Mayor, the City will pay for the Police Department's professional dues and subscriptions so the Chief and others can participate in national, regional, state, and local organizations. These organization include, but are not limited to: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Chiefs of Police Association, the Kentucky Association of Police Chiefs, the Northern Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, and the Kenton County Chiefs Association.
(G) Professional development. Subject to monies authorized by the City Council through the budget and the approval of the Mayor, the Chief of Police and others may attend conferences and seminars necessary for the Police Department's professional development, including but not limited to, the International Association of Police Conference, the Kentucky Association of Police Chiefs Conference, and the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Police Executive Command Course, as well as short courses and institutes through the FBI National Academy and/or Southern Police Institute.
(H) Automobile, cellular telephone, and uniform allowance.
(1) The city shall provide the Chief of Police a vehicle, as long as the Police Department's resources, as determined by the Mayor, are able to support assignment of such vehicle. The Chief of Police may use the vehicle to respond to emergencies and report to work from the Chiefs residence to the police station or any other location deemed as reporting for duty. The Chief of Police may also enjoy de minimis personal use of the vehicle.
(2) If, due to budget constraints, or for some other reason such as breakdowns or shortage, a city vehicle is not available, the city shall reimburse the Chief of Police for mileage at the rate per mile established for all employees who use personal vehicles on City businesses.
(3) The city shall reimburse the Chief of Police $100 per month (payable the first pay period in June and December of each year) for the Chief’s cellular phone service. If the Chief of Police's cellular phone is damaged or destroyed because of his or her work, the city shall reimburse the Chief for the replacement cost of the phone.
(4) The Chief of Police shall receive a uniform allowance equal to the other officers' allowance of the city's Police Department.
(I) Compensation, vacation, and health insurance.
(1) The compensation for the Chief of Police shall be set by the Council by ordinance.
(2) The Chief of Police shall be subject to the same vacation benefits provided all other city employees, unless otherwise provided by ordinance.
(3) The Chief of Police shall be eligible for all health insurance benefits received by other city employees.
(4) The Chief of Police shall receive longevity pay as provided other full-time city employees.
(5) The Chief of Police shall be entitled to all paid holidays provided other full-time city employees.
(6) The Chief of Police shall be entitled to the same amount of sick days, personal days, bereavement and any other leave provided to other full-time city employees, unless otherwise provided by ordinance.
(J) Termination. The Chief of Police may be terminated for cause only, by the Mayor, as provided in Chapter 9, Section 3 of the city's personnel policy. In the event of termination, the Chief of Police shall be entitled to a post-termination hearing before Council or may appeal the decision pursuant to the city's appeals and grievance procedures.
(K) (1) Salary, compensation and vacation. The city authorizes an annual salary in the amount of $60,320 plus $4,000 incentive pay from the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the Chief of Police. This figure is subject to change by ordinance or amendment to the city's then existing budget ordinance.
(2) The Chief shall be eligible to participate in the deferred compensation plan through Kentucky Deferred Compensation.
(3) The Chief shall receive 160 hours of vacation time each year which shall accrue on January 1 of each year. The Chief’s vacation leave shall be carried over at year end in the same manner as other full-time employees.
(2010 Code, § 30.25) (Ord. 1, 2012, passed 3-12-2012; Ord. 10, 2012, passed 7-9-2012; Ord. 10, 2014, passed 6-6-2014; Ord. 11, 2014, passed 6-10-2014; Ord. 6, 2018, passed 6-18-2018)