The primary responsibility for the keeping of peace and order
in the Township shall be in the Police Department.
The Police Department shall be under the jurisdiction and control
of the Board. However, during a period of emergency affecting safety,
health, and privacy of the public, when the Board is not in session,
and subject to general rules and regulations of the Board, the Department
shall be under the jurisdiction and control of the Chairman of the
Board or such other Supervisor so designated.
A Police Department shall be established by ordinance. The highest
ranking police officer shall be designated as the Chief of Police.
The ordinance creating the Police Department shall establish all lower
ranking officers and shall define their jurisdiction, authority and
responsibility.
It shall be the duty of the Police Department to preserve the
public peace, prevent and detect crime, police the streets and highways,
and enforce traffic statutes, ordinances and regulations relating
thereto. The Police Department and its personnel shall at all times
aid in the administration and enforcement within the Township of the
laws of the United States of America and of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and the ordinances of the Township.
Police officers shall have all the powers and protection conferred
by statute and ordinance upon members of the police force of the Township
and upon constables of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. They shall
have the power to make lawful searches, seizures and arrests for violations
of any statute or ordinance in force in the Township, to serve subpoenas
when ordered to do so by their superior officers, and to do such other
acts as may be required of them by statute or ordinance.
