Town of Lynnfield, MA Police Department Rules and Regulations

The Sergeant shall inspect each patrolman on the tour of duty and see that he is in proper physical condition, neat in person and suitably and properly uniformed, and that he has with him his revolver and regulation equipment.

He shall then read to them or give them orally all special instructions and orders, descriptions of persons to be apprehended and of vehicles reported as stolen, and give them other such general and particular instructions as are necessary.

Sergeants shall also once in each month specially inspect the revolver of each patrolman on their respective shift and record their findings in a book kept at headquarters for this purpose.

When not on regular hours of duty, a Sergeant may be absent from the Town, but when absent he shall keep the officer in charge of headquarters informed of his whereabouts and how he can be reached by telephone.

§ 360-5 Patrolmen.

Patrolmen shall fully acquaint themselves with all parts of the Town and the streets, buildings and structures therein. They shall also note all removals thereto or therefrom and observe the inhabitants sufficiently to be able to recognize them, but in so doing they shall not intrude upon the privacy of any person.

They shall furnish such information and render such aid to all persons when requested as is proper and consistent with duty, and upon hearing a call for assistance shall proceed speedily to render it.

They shall courteously and carefully inform travelers, upon request, as to the most direct and convenient routes to their places of destination.

They shall see that the sidewalks are not obstructed to the inconvenience of travelers by persons loitering thereon, watch persons who improperly accost persons of the opposite sex and do all in their power to protect women and girls from insult or annoyance. They shall strictly observe the conduct of all persons of known bad character, fix such mental impressions as will enable recognition of them to be made when met on the street at night, note their movements and the premises they enter, learn their names, residences, occupations and report to the officer in charge at headquarters any and all information obtained.

Every patrolman shall take particular notice of all places where intoxicating liquors are sold, dance halls and other places of public amusement, all licensed persons and places within the Town, and also all suspected gambling houses, prize fighting places, mock auction rooms, vendors of lottery tickets and houses of ill fame, and keep a list thereof in his book for reference and report fully to the Chief in relation thereto.

Streets.

Patrolmen shall be vigilant in observing the condition of the public streets to see that they are safe and convenient for the public travel, and that no defects, or obstructions are suffered to remain therein.

Whenever a police officer discovers a defect or obstruction in a public street which may cause accidents, he shall at once remove it or, if he cannot remove it, take immediate measures to prevent accidents by erecting suitable guards and displaying lighted lanterns at night and as soon as possible notify the Chief or the officer in charge at headquarters of the circumstances.

Patrolmen shall note and report all street lamps that are out of repair or are not lighted at proper times, or too early extinguished; examine all building construction, repair and alteration and all openings in public ways of every kind and nature and ascertain whether proper permits have been obtained and posted, and if noncompliance with the law be found report the same in writing; note and report any building where any noisome, dangerous or unwholesome trade is carried on; take notice of all ashes, garbage, dead animals, or other offensive matter thrown into the streets, streams or ponds; or where the streets are improperly obstructed ascertain the names of any persons offending and report the same to the Chief or to the officer in charge at headquarters; and report all nuisances and other matters affecting the safety and convenience of the public or the interests of the Town.

They shall observe the condition of all dwellings, houses and other buildings on their patrol and be vigilant to protect them from injury and depredation. At least once on each tour of duty, they shall try the outer doors of closed stores and commercial buildings that are at the time not open for business, and at night, the outer doors of occupied dwelling houses whose occupants are known to be away from the Town. If no responsible person is in the building that is found unsecured, doors and/or windows shall be made fast and the owner, occupant or agent of the building promptly notified.

When a way becomes blocked by vehicles, the patrolman at or near the place blocked shall use his best efforts to restore the flow of traffic and if the stream of travel is continuous, he shall open the way for foot travelers wishing to cross, attending especially to women, children and aged persons.

When a patrolman has knowledge of any disturbance, he shall use his best efforts to restore peace and good order.

No patrolman shall, during his tour of duty, enter any store, house, shop, or other building except in the performance of his duty and in such cases shall remain no longer than duty requires, nor shall any patrolmen have in his possession, without the consent of the Chief of Police, or other officer in charge at headquarters, a key to any premises upon or near his route.

No patrolman or other officer of the Department shall, while on duty or while in uniform, drink intoxicating liquor (except in the immediate performance of his duty) or enter any place in which intoxicating liquor is sold or furnished. Smoking in any form while in uniform and either walking or standing on a public way is strictly prohibited.

Any property which may come into the possession of a patrolman in his official capacity shall be carefully preserved, marked and delivered by him without delay to the officer in charge at headquarters.

A patrolman may act officially in criminal matters only; he shall therefore render no assistance in any civil case whatever except to prevent a breach of the peace or to suppress a disturbance actually commenced. On such occasions, he shall merely take into custody persons disturbing the peace.

Every patrolman shall keep a private daily record of his work and enter therein all matters of importance in work in which he is engaged in his official capacity, whether occurring on his route, at court, or elsewhere, and also any other matters of importance connected with his duty which comes to his knowledge.

Every patrolman shall each day, at such times as shall be appointed, make report to the officer in charge at headquarters of all that he has done, and all important information that has come to him during the previous 24 hours, or since his last report, exhibiting his notebook, if requested.

Any patrolman detailed for special duty who fails to report promptly therefor may be temporarily suspended, and if upon investigation it appears that there was no justifiable excuse or reason for such failure, charges shall be preferred against him.

He shall report to headquarters in time to receive his orders prior to going on his tour of duty, and shall not be absent without leave.

§ 360-6 Special Police.

Every special police officer appointed by the Board of Selectmen shall, during the term of his appointment, wear the badge prescribed by the Chief and carry a copy of these rules with all amendments thereof, and shall return them to the Chief upon the expiration of such term.

Special police officers are subject to these rules and regulations so far as they relate to general conduct and the performance of policy duty, and when acting under orders of the Chief are subject to these rules and regulations in every respect.

Special police officers are appointed subject to being ordered temporarily to regular police duty. While so acting, they shall have all the powers and be subject to all the duties of the permanent officers of the Department.

Every special police officer shall make a written report at such intervals as shall be from time to time prescribed by the Chief, which shall contain a statement of every official act performed by him during the period of the report.

Special police officers will be deprived of their appointment by the Board of Selectmen for violations of these rules and regulations, neglect of duty or unfitness for office.

§ 360-7 Arrests; prisoners.

It is the duty of every police officer to be familiar with the law relating to arrest, whether with or without warrants, and he will be held to strict compliance therewith.

An officer who has a warrant placed in his hand for execution should scrutinize it carefully to ascertain:

Whether it is issued by a magistrate having jurisdiction of the subject matter.

Whether it is properly sealed and directed.

Whether he is authorized to execute it.

(4)

What his powers are under it.

All arrest warrants, except indictment warrants, remaining unserved for six months shall be returned to court, unless otherwise ordered by the Chief. Note of the return shall be made in the warrant book.

In arresting a person, no more force shall be used than is absolutely necessary for the safe custody of the prisoner, or for overcoming any resistance made. Any abuse of prisoners, either by word or act, will be severely punished.

If any officer finds his personal efforts insufficient to effect an arrest or if he has reason to believe that resistance will be made, he may, in the name of the commonwealth, demand the aid of any citizen present.

Every person arrested for any cause shall be taken at once to headquarters or to an authorized place and registered.

When any person charges another with a felony and insists that the person so charged shall be taken into custody, the officer, if he arrests the person so charged, shall require the accuser, if unknown to him, or if there is other sufficient reason, to go with the accused to headquarters.

Every person taken into custody by an officer, with or without a written warrant, must be taken before the court at its next sitting. If taken on a warrant, the arresting officer must make a return over his own signature.

Every person arrested has a right to know from the officer who arrests or claims to detain him the true ground on which the arrest is made; and an officer who refuses to answer a question relative to the reason for such arrest, or answers such questions untruly, or assigns to the person arrested an untrue reason for the arrest, or neglects on request to exhibit to the person arrested, or to any other person acting in his behalf, the precept by virtue of which such arrest has been made, is punishable by fine or imprisonment.

Every officer shall at all times have with him a book in which he shall enter the names of persons arrested by him, with such particulars as may be important in the trial of the case.

Every person taken to headquarters under arrest shall be immediately placed before the officer in charge, who shall enter the arrest in the arrest book, search the prisoner and examine him for bruises, cuts and other injuries and see that he is placed in a cell with no more force than is necessary to overcome resistance and without unnecessary or improper talk. The officer in charge will be held strictly accountable for the thoroughness of the search of all prisoners and he shall see that any articles which might be used for self destruction are taken from them. He shall be responsible for property taken from prisoners, and the making of proper records thereof and also for compliance with the law relative to examination and report.

When an arrested person is found to be suffering from injuries such as to require medical or surgical attention, a physician shall be called without delay.

Persons under arrest shall be made as comfortable as possible; they shall be supplied with water to drink and the officer in charge of headquarters shall visit or cause to be visited all persons in custody at least once in every hour during the night.

Every person under arrest shall be given proper facilities for notifying his family, friends or a bail commissioner, but no expense shall be incurred on behalf of the Town for such purpose, nor shall any member of the force accept a fee for rendering any service to such persons.

No member of the Department shall recommend to a prisoner the employment of any person as attorney or counsel, or suggest or name any lawyer or other person to a prisoner with a view to his defense subsequent to the arrest.

§ 360-8 Court attendance; evidence.

Every officer having a case in court shall have it property prepared, the witnesses in attendance and all exhibits to be offered in evidence in the courtroom, properly and conveniently arranged for presentation, before the coming in of the court. When his presence in court is no longer required, he shall return promptly to headquarters and report to the officer in charge the disposition made of all cases in his charge.

Every officer attending court shall be punctual in attendance, wear his regulation uniform and be clean and neat in appearance; except, however, that special police officers and officers detailed for special service may, with the approval of the Chief, appear in plain clothes. He shall conduct himself with decorum and be attentive and respectful to the court and all persons present. When addressing the court, testifying or examining witnesses, he shall speak calmly and distinctly and so that he may be clearly heard not only by the court and jury, if any, but by all persons present in the courtroom. In testifying, he shall be explicit, strictly accurate and, while avoiding hearsay testimony and irrelevant facts, state the whole truth without understating or overstating the slightest particular and without fear or favor, being particularly careful that he be not influenced by ill will toward any defendant at whose hands he may have suffered injury. When examining witnesses and addressing the court, officers shall stand in front of the clerk's desk unless otherwise directed by the court.

No officer shall testify in a civil or criminal case in any court unless legally summoned as a witness or unless he shall have received permission or order so to do from the Board of Selectmen or the Chief.

No member of the Department shall give any information, except as a witness duly summoned, relating to any action or proceeding in which the Town is a party except with the approval of the Town Counsel or permission of the Board of Selectmen.

§ 360-9 Fires.

Whenever an officer discovers or is made aware of a fire beyond his control, he shall immediately, and without first attempting to extinguish it, ring an alarm from the nearest fire alarm box, unless he knows that an alarm has already been rung, and shall notify police headquarters. He shall then see that by or by another trustworthy person left at the box the firemen are properly directed. However, if an alarm can be sounded in a shorter period of time by so doing, the officer discovering the fire shall, instead of ringing the nearest fire alarm box, immediately call police headquarters and notify the officer in charge to ring the alarm at police headquarters. He shall inform headquarters of the exact location of the fire and if possible the nature of the fire. The officer in charge shall immediately ring the alarm at headquarters and call fire headquarters and report the location and nature of the fire. He shall note the time of an alarm whenever given by himself or by another person in his presence, and any matters of seeming importance connected therewith or with the fire itself.

When an alarm of fire is rung, the officer in charge of headquarters shall immediately dispatch to the fire such police force as may be available, it shall be the duty of the officer in command of such force, upon his arrival at the fire, to confer with the officer or firefighter in charge of the firemen and receive from him designated fire lines. The designated area shall then be cleared of vehicles and persons, and if necessary roped off in order that the firemen may not be obstructed in their work. In case of a second and general alarm, all officers not on street duty shall promptly report for duty at the fire. Patrolmen on street duty shall immediately call headquarters. Upon arriving at the fire, each officer will report to the police officer in command, who shall take his name and report the same at police headquarters. The officer in charge of the police force at the fire shall see that proper police assistance is provided until the fire is extinguished or until dismissed by the officer or firefighter in charge; however, if because of a greater emergency the police force must leave the scene of a fire, such leave must not be taken before first reporting it to the officer of firefighter in charge.

§ 360-10 Accidents; deaths.

In all cases of accidents, and of sickness occurring in the streets or other public places, the police are to render all needed assistance in their power by sending for medical aid, or by helping the sufferers to their homes or to hospitals, and they shall also notify headquarters if the ambulance or other vehicle appears necessary. Upon the arrival of a physician, the officer in rendering aid shall act under his instructions, but police officers are expected to be competent to render first aid in such cases, before the arrival of a physician.

Police officers shall give particular attention to all cases of drowning or apparent drowning coming to their knowledge and use every means in their power to resuscitate persons taken from the water.

Whenever an officer becomes aware of an accident involving a motor vehicle or vehicles on his route, or on an adjoining route if the officer patrolling it is not nearby, he shall go to the scene of the accident, follow the instructions in Subsection A and in addition take charge of the scene until the arrival of a superior officer and arrange and divert traffic to relieve and prevent congestion until the arrival of a superior officer.

Whenever a police officer shall find a dead body or learn of any death by violence, he shall immediately notify the officer in charge at headquarters and take and follow his instructions in relation to further action. The officer in charge shall at once notify the medical examiner of the district.

A police officer, upon discovering a dead body or a person who appears to have been injured by violence, shall, if the circumstances indicate the commission of a crime, at once note all particulars, take the names of all persons present, or who may have any knowledge of the affair, and if necessary detail for the time being any persons whose testimony in his judgment might be needed in establishing any fact or clearing any doubt in connection with the case, and as soon as possible notify the officer in charge at headquarters in relation thereto.

Police officers shall make full reports in writing on accident blanks of all accidents and injuries to persons or property which come to their notice, and such reports shall be entered on the journal. When it is alleged or it appears that an injury to persons or property has been caused or may have been caused by defects or obstructions in the public streets, they shall take immediate measures to obtain all information relating to the cause of the accident and the nature and extent of the defect or obstruction, if any, and cause the Director of Public Works to be notified.

§ 360-11 Lost children.

Any patrolman who finds a child who has strayed or has been abandoned shall take or send it to its home if known and within the Town, or otherwise to headquarters.

When a lost or abandoned child comes or is brought to headquarters, the officer in charge shall enter upon the journal a description of the child, the time when and the place where it was found, and such other particulars as may serve to identify it.

He shall, if the child is identified while in his care, send notice immediately to its parents, guardian or relatives.

If, after a reasonable time has elapsed, the child is not called for or identified, the officer in command shall notify at once the Department of Public Welfare to take over the custody of the child.

§ 360-12 Uniforms and equipment.

The Chief shall, upon proper requisition, supply the members of the Department with badges, buttons, wreaths, numbers, belts, clubs, revolvers, uniforms, and other equipment, all of which shall remain the property of the Town and be returned to headquarters when the member of the Department having them in his possession shall cease to be a member, or whenever he shall be ordered to return them by the Chief, or as otherwise directed in these rules.

All uniforms and parts of uniforms shall strictly conform to standard specifications and regulations established or approved by the Board of Selectmen.

Each garment shall be inspected by the Chief to see that it conforms to the standard specifications and regulations before it is worn. Uniforms and parts of uniforms not made in accordance with the specifications and regulations will be rejected. The Chief or superior officer shall frequently examine the condition of uniforms worn on duty and condemn any that may be unfit for service, and shall cause such uniforms to be replaced.

Every member of the Department shall wear upon both sleeves of his uniform coat a stripe for every five years of his service as a police officer of the Town.

Every police officer shall carry his badge upon his person at all times, and when on duty it shall be worn on his uniform.

§ 360-13 Headquarters.

The police building, referred to in these rules as "headquarters," is to be used exclusively for police business and for no other purpose except by direction of the Board of Selectmen and the Chief of Police. Headquarters shall not be left in charge of an officer who is unable to use the telephone and attend to the signal apparatus.

Civility, courtesy and attention shall be shown to every person visiting the headquarters on proper business. Persons not having such business and those whose business has been finished will not be allowed to remain. No persons except police officers in charge or persons authorized by the Chief shall be allowed to enter behind the rail in the general office. No person shall be allowed in headquarters to sell goods or to offer them for sale, or to canvass or solicit for any purpose without written permission from the Board of Selectmen or the Chief. The officer in charge of headquarters for the time being shall be charged with the proper determination of any question arising under this rule and its enforcement.

Telephones shall be used for police business only and the strictest economy, consistent with due regard for the comfort of the officers and proper transaction of business, shall be observed in the use of fuel, gas and electricity; and care shall be taken that the property of the Town is not wasted, injured or destroyed.

There shall be no parking of vehicles in the driveway leading to police headquarters.

No article of furniture, picture, print, statue or advertisement shall be brought into headquarters for use or used therein unless supplied by the Department or authorized by the Chief.

No intoxicating liquor, other than such as may be held after search or as evidence, shall be brought into headquarters upon any pretext, except when ordered by a physician.

No games of chance for stakes or wagers shall be played in headquarters and no officer, while on duty in charge thereof, shall play at any game.

Cells shall be kept clean and well ventilated. Doors of cells in which prisoners are confined shall be carefully locked and bolted, and keys kept in the office. No person shall be allowed to visit the cells without permission of the officer in charge and accompanied by an officer designated for the purpose.

No original books, records, or other property of the Department shall be given to any person or taken from the headquarters, except by permission of the Chief or officer in charge. A record of any book, record or other property taken, together with the name of the person taking it and the time of taking, shall be recorded on the blotter; and an entry shall be made on the blotter when it is returned.

§ 360-14 Garage; motor vehicles.

The Chief shall have charge of all motor vehicles assigned for use by the Police Department and shall designate routes for the patrol cars and other motor vehicles. He shall make a monthly report to the Board of Selectmen concerning the condition of each vehicle.

The police garage shall be at all times kept clean and neat, and all motor vehicles shall be kept clean and well polished.

No motor vehicle assigned for use by the Department shall be used for any purpose other than police work, nor shall any such motor vehicle be driven beyond the Town limits, except in emergency, or in line of duty and then only with the consent of the Chief or officer in charge.

Any officer detailed for duty on, or using any motor vehicle, belonging to or in use by the Department shall be responsible for its cleanliness, careful use and good order, and it shall be his duty to see that it is properly equipped, has sufficient gasoline, oil and water, and that the tires are properly inflated, and to report forthwith to the Chief, superior officer or officer in charge upon the discovery of any mechanical defect or insufficient or defective equipment. If two officers are detailed for duty on or are using the same motor vehicle, the senior officer of the same rank shall be in charge.

No taxicab or private automobile shall be hired for Department work except by direct order of the Chief.

No person shall be allowed to ride in Department motor vehicles unless for police purposes. Patrol cars shall not be used to transport adult persons from one city or town to another, but children under 17 years of age who have run away from their homes may be carried therein. The officer in charge of the car shall report to his commanding officer in writing the name of any person, except officers of rank, riding in motor vehicles, together with the reason therefor and the length of time.

No person except a member of the Department shall be allowed to remain in the garage without permission of a superior officer.

§ 360-15 Pay; leaves of absence for outstanding performance.

Every officer shall be paid weekly for his services in accordance with these rules.

No officer shall sell or assign his pay, or give a power of attorney for the collection thereof, except by permission of the Board of Selectmen.

Upon recommendation of the Chief and by the approval of the Selectmen, for outstanding performance in the line of duty the Chief shall grant a member of the Department a leave of absence with pay not to exceed three days.

§ 360-16 Special details.

Assignment.

Officers detailed to attend civic, patriotic, political or other public meetings or assemblies, for the preservation of order, shall perform the duties assigned to them as a matter of duty. The Chief may, in his discretion, however, detail officers to attend private or semi-public meetings or assemblies at the request of the promoters thereof. Officers so detailed may, if the assignment is determined by the Chief to be a paying detail, receive pay from such promoters for their services.

If in any case the Chief shall be in doubt whether any assignment is properly a paying detail, he shall refer the matter to the Board of Selectmen for determination.

Staffing.

Intermittent and special officers shall be subject to the authority of the Chief of Police and shall be detailed by him for duty. In the case of special paid details, intermittent and special officers shall be used only after regular members of the Department who will be available have refused the assignment.

Regular paid details shall be posted in the police station and shall be assigned to regular officers who will be available for the occasion. The list of officers shall be established with superior officers at the top followed by those patrolmen in the order of their length of service. The object of this section is to provide as near as equal distribution of paid details amongst the regular force as possible. Each officer assigned a detail must initial the detail sheet at least 48 hours in advance signifying his intent to accept the assignment. If a police officer refuses a detail or fails to initial the list, he shall be passed over until the list has been processed and it is his turn again. If a regular police officer fails to accept a paid detail or if no regular officers are available, the Police Chief shall then assign special or intermittent officers.

The status of an officer assigned to a paying detail is not changed by the method of payment for his services. His duty is to preserve order and he is not to act as ticket-taker, door keeper or render other assistance except momentarily as courtesy may require.

In labor disputes and other cases where two or more private interests are opposed, details of officers shall be made in such force as to ensure the preservation of order and the protection of the legal rights and property of all concerned. No charge shall be made for such service, but if any person or group of persons shall request police protection for his or its private premises in excess of that generally afforded, a paying detail may be made subject to the following conditions:

The protection of the general public shall not be reduced thereby.

Officers so detailed shall be carefully instructed that notwithstanding the payment to be received they are under obligation to the person or persons paying them but are to perform their police duties with entire impartiality.

Such officers shall accept no gratuities except refreshments when none can be bought by them within a reasonable distance from their posts.

Payment for services on paying details shall be at rates to be established from time to time by the Board of Selectmen.

Payment may be made to patrolmen or the Chief. If payment is received by the latter, he shall turn it over without delay or deduction to each officer entitled thereto, giving a receipt therefor to the payer and taking a receipt from the payee, which shall specify the dates, places and hours of service, the officer or officers rendering it, and the rates charged, and the Chief shall keep a separate account book containing the same information.

§ 360-17 Offenses; charges; complaint against officers.

Procedure.

Complaints against members of the force made by other members must be in writing. When the complainant is not the Chief, the complaint shall be entered in the journal, and the officer in charge shall within 24 hours thereafter make charges and specifications founded upon such complaint and forward them to the Chief for transmission to the Board of Selectmen.

Officers in charge shall similarly forward charges and specifications founded on matters within their own knowledge, or on information received by them touching supposed violations of the rules, to the Chief.

A member of the force who believes that his reputation has been injured by rumors or assertions without specific charges may apply to the Board of Selectmen in writing for an inquiry through the Chief.

Disposition.

Whenever a complaint is made at headquarters against a member of the force by a person who is not a member thereof, the officer in charge shall reduce it to writing, enter it in the journal and promptly refer it to the Chief. When such a complaint is made to the Board of Selectmen, it may be referred, in the discretion of the Board, to the Chief for investigation and report.

If the nature of any complaint referred to the Chief is such that he cannot properly dispose of it under the authority vested in him by these rules, he shall present it in proper written form at the regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen next after the completion of his investigation.

When so directed by the Board of Selectmen, the Clerk of the Board shall frame charges, based upon the report, and notify the complainant to appear and verify them by affidavit. Failure so to appear within four weekdays shall be regarded as an abandonment of the charges and unless further action in the interest of the Department is ordered by the Board of Selectmen, they shall be quashed and not made part of the officer's record.

Punishment duty.

Punishment duty, when ordered as a penalty for an offense, shall be performed under the direction of the Chief or a superior officer designated by him. It shall be in addition to all duty and assigned special duty, and no officer performing punishment duty shall, on that account, be relieved of any regular or extra work which he otherwise would have done. Punishment duty must be useful, whether in the street or at headquarters, as an addition to the effective strength or as relief for other officers who have worked hard and faithfully. There must, however, be no favoritism in assignments or relief. Punishment duty shall be so assigned as not to subject the officer under punishment to undue fatigue or otherwise unfit him for his regular or special work; and except with his written consent, he shall not be compelled to perform more than seven consecutive hours of punishment duty at any time, more than 14 hours in four consecutive days, nor more than 21 hours in seven consecutive days, nor to perform such duty within two hours before or after a tour of regular or special duty.

Whenever any portion of the punishment duty as ordered has been performed, the officer assigning it shall report to the Chief in the next daily return the name of the officer, the number of hours, and the character of the work done; and when the sentence has been completed, he shall so certify in such form as the Chief shall prescribe.

Any police officer against whom a complaint has been made, who shall attempt, directly or indirectly, by threat, appeal, persuasion, or the payment or promise of money, to secure the withdrawal or abandonment of such complaint, or to prevent the attendance of witnesses, or who at any time before final judgment shall cause any person to intercede personally or by letter, in his behalf, with the Board of Selectmen or with the Chief shall be deemed guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer.

§ 360-18 Ambulance.

The ambulance owned by the Town of Lynnfield shall be assigned to the Police Department, which Department shall be held responsible for its care and maintenance.

The Chief of Police will be responsible to the Board of Selectmen for the observance of these regulations and such other regulations as may be adopted by the Board of Selectmen from time to time governing the use of the ambulance.

Ambulance service may be furnished to anyone in an emergency; and when no emergency exists but some sick person desires to be taken to a hospital, transportation shall be furnished only if the patient cannot be moved safely, or without suffering, by other available means. In other cases, residents of the Town should not request or expect the use of the Town ambulance. In no event shall the use of the ambulance be afforded except to take persons to hospitals in Lynnfield and adjoining towns. The greater the distance the greater shall be the emergency requiring it.

§ 360-19 Duties in general.

Although certain hours are allotted to the respective members for the performance of duty on ordinary occasions, yet at all times they must be prepared to act immediately on notice that their services are required. Punctual attendance, prompt obedience to orders and conformity to the rules of the Department shall be rigidly enforced.

Every member of the Department shall at all times be neat in person and keep his uniform clean and in presentable condition, the buttons, badge and metal trimmings bright, and his shoes clean. When his dress becomes soiled or disarranged, it shall be put in proper condition as soon as circumstances permit.

Police officers shall be drilled in such manner, by officers, and at such hours and places, as the Chief may direct. When proceeding in a body to perform any duty, or when returning therefrom, they shall march in military order.

No member of the Department shall fail to take action immediately necessary at any time or in any place for the preservation of the peace and good order or for the public safety because such action may be the assigned duty or duty or duty under the rule of another officer not present or who being present is unable or fails to act.

Coolness and firmness will be required of every officer in all cases, and in time of extreme peril the police must be careful to act together and to protect each other in the restoration of peace. Whoever shrinks from danger or responsibility when duty requires him to meet it is unworthy of a place in the service. Officers shall not use their clubs except in self defense or in cases of forcible or violent resistance to them in the discharge of duty.

Every member of the Department shall in all things observe and comply with the law, conform strictly to the rules and regulations of the Department, respectfully and promptly obey the commands and orders of his superior officers and perform his duty with zeal, courage, discretion and fidelity. Every member of the Department shall, in his conduct and deportment, be quiet, civil and orderly, control his temper and exercise the utmost patience and discretion, at all times refrain from harsh, violent, coarse or profane language, and when questioned be courteously attentive and answer clearly and civilly, not unnecessarily prolonging the conversation, however. He shall treat his superiors with respect, and his demeanor to his associates on the force shall be courteous and considerate, guarding himself against jealousy, envy, or other unfriendly feeling and refraining from all communications to their discredit except to his superior officers, to whom it is his duty to report every neglect or disobedience of orders on their part that may come to his knowledge.

Members of the Department shall avoid all religious and political discussions at headquarters or elsewhere while in uniform; they shall not interfere or make or attempt to make use of their influence in elections or political conventions; and in political matters they shall do no more than exercise the right of suffrage as citizens.

No member of the Police Department shall be a member of or affiliated with any organization or association of organized labor except such independent organizations within the Department as may be approved by the Board of Selectmen.

No member of the Police Department shall be a member of or affiliated with any organization the principles or practices of which are opposed to the laws or the enforcement of the laws of the United States or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or opposed to the established forms of government therein or are or may be prejudicial to the conscientious performance of the duties of a police officer or inimical to the discipline of the Department.

§ 360-20 Radio patrol cars.

A patrolman assigned to radio-patrol car duty shall adhere to the rules prescribed for such type of service, and shall be subject to all rules and regulations prescribed for all police officers.

Any police officer who operates a radio transmitter is subject to the rules and regulations of the Federal Communications Commission. The following three violations of the rules of that Commission are punishable by heavy fines or imprisonment, or both:

Willful damage to radio apparatus, or permitting radio apparatus to be damaged.

Transmission of superfluous radio communications or signals, or radio communications containing profane, obscene or indecent language.