There shall be maintained a police department, the members of which, other than the chief of police, shall be qualified and appointed under civil service rules and regulations. There shall be appointed a chief of police as provided in chapter V., Section 7 of this Charter. Such chief of police shall keep a public office, to be provided by the mayor and council, which office shall be open day and night. The chief of police shall devote his or her entire time to the discharge of the duties of that office, and shall have full control of the police force of the city.
In addition to the chief of police, the mayor and council, in the organization of the police department, shall provide for a permanent police force, which shall consist of such number of policemen as the mayor and council shall, from time to time, deem necessary to preserve the peace, protect the lives and property of the citizens, and enforce the laws and ordinances within the city.
The chief and members of the police department shall have power to make arrests for violations of the ordinances of the city, and shall have the same power and authority to make arrests, and to serve processes, within the city, other than civil processes issued from the superior or justice of peace courts, or is or may be vested in sheriffs or other peace officers by the laws of the state. They shall have such other powers and duties as the mayor and council may, by ordinance, provide.
(Prop. 404, eff. 2-2-2016)
Cross References: Appointment, term and removal of police chief, ch. V, 7; authority of police to serve process of magistrates court, ch. XII. § 5; previously employed policemen declared under civil service, ch. XXV, § 10; effect of civil service on police chief, ch. XXV, § 11.