[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Common Council of the City of
Westminster 2-27-2006 by Ord. No. 742.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 33, Police
Department, adopted as Ch. 15 of the 1972 Code, as amended.
The Police Department of this City is hereby created.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Includes the Chief of Police, commissioned officers, noncommissioned
officers, and all sworn police officers as certified by the Maryland Police
Training Commission who, by authority of the governing body, are designated
as "bailiffs."
The Police Department shall have general charge and control of the peace
and good order of the City. The bailiffs of the Department shall enforce the
laws of the state, this Code and other ordinances and perform all such duties
appertaining to the office of bailiff as may now or hereinafter be prescribed
or may be prescribed by departmental regulations and orders.
[Amended 4-26-2006 by Ord. No. 750]
A.
The bailiff in charge of the Police Department shall be the Chief of Police, who shall be appointed as provided in § 29-3 for an indefinite term. The Chief of Police shall be chosen on the basis of his or her professional standing as a police officer and ability as a police administrator.
B.
The Mayor and Common Council may call upon the services of the
state police or other such agencies for advice and for testing of candidates
for the position of the Chief of Police. At the time of appointment the Chief
need not be a resident of the City or the state, except as may be provided
otherwise by state law, the City Charter, this Code or other guidance.
C.
The Chief of Police may be removed or temporarily suspended from his or her position or not reappointed to his or her position as provided in § 29-4 of the City Code.
D.
The Chief of Police shall be the commanding officer of the Police
Department, and the Chief shall have such powers and perform such duties as
are prescribed for the Chief by this Code and other ordinances and as may
at any time be prescribed for the Chief by the legislative body and department
rules and regulations. Among other duties, the Chief of Police shall:
(1)
Make periodic reports on matters affecting or reflecting upon
the Police Department to the legislative body.
(2)
Prepare a budget request for the Police Department and submit
it to the City Administrator for review and correlation with budget requests
of other departments.
(3)
Attend meetings of the legislative body when requested to do
so by it.
A.
The Chief of Police shall establish rules and regulations
for the administration and discipline of the members of the Police Department,
not inconsistent with law. The Chief of Police shall supplement, revise, modify
or repeal such rules and regulations as circumstances require and in conformance
with approved funding.
B.
The Chief of Police is hereby empowered to issue operational
orders and special orders including, but not limited to, the disposition of
unclaimed, found or lawfully seized personal property, not inconsistent with
law, this Code or other ordinances or approved departmental rules and regulations,
which shall have the same force and effect as rules and regulations of the
governing body.
The Police Department may be organized into shifts, squads, bureaus,
divisions and offices, which organization shall be determined by the Chief
of Police. The total salaries for such positions shall be consistent with
the budget approved by resolution of the legislative body.
The Police Department may employ civilian staff who are not bailiffs as approved in the annual operating budget. These employees shall perform such duties as the Chief of Police may from time to time assign or prescribe, including, but not limited to, the issuance of citations for violations of Chapter 155, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Westminster City Code.
The Chief of Police may authorize certified police officers of law enforcement agencies sharing concurrent jurisdiction with the Westminster Police Department to enforce specific provisions of Chapter 155, entitled "Vehicles and Traffic," of the Westminster City Code, as well as to issue citations for violations of that chapter. The Chief of Police may also authorize properly trained safety/security representatives of private and public entities within the City to enforce specific provisions of Chapter 155, Vehicles and Traffic, of the Westminster City Code, as well as to issue citations for violations of that chapter.
The Chief of Police, bailiffs and employees of the Police Department
shall receive the compensation provided in the approved City budget for their
respective offices, grades or positions.
A.
Establishment. The Chief of Police is hereby empowered
to establish and maintain an auxiliary police force to be known as the "Westminster
Auxiliary Police" to assist the Westminster Police Department in the matters
set forth herein.
B.
Duties of Westminster Auxiliary Police. The Westminster
Auxiliary Police shall perform the following duties under the direction of
the Westminster Police Department:
(1)
Render assistance as requested in major disasters and
emergencies, as determined by the Chief of Police.
(2)
Render assistance as requested with regard to directing
and controlling vehicular and pedestrian traffic and parking at such functions
within the jurisdiction of the Westminster Police Department.
(3)
Such other duties as may be directed by the Chief of
Police.
C.
Powers of Westminster Auxiliary Police. Westminster Auxiliary
Police shall have the powers necessary to carry out the functions as directed
by the Westminster Police Department as set forth herein. The Westminster
Auxiliary Police shall not be deemed "bailiffs" as defined by the City Code
and shall not have general arrest and law enforcement powers, shall not carry
or use firearms while on duty and shall not have general investigative responsibility.
D.
The Chief of Police shall be empowered to promulgate
such rules, regulations and orders as the Chief may deem necessary to implement
this section.
