[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21[1]]
There is hereby established the Police Department of the City, which shall consist of the Chief of Police and such police officers as the Council shall prescribe by ordinance. They shall receive such compensation as shall be determined by ordinance, and such compensation shall be in lieu of all special fees, rewards, or remuneration arising from such police service.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 2.44, Police Department.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
A. 
The Chief of Police shall be the chief executive officer and shall have direct control and management of all members of the department in the lawful exercise of their duties. He shall be responsible for the maintenance of order, the enforcement of laws, ordinances and regulations of the City, the prevention of crime, and the protection of life and property. In case of the absence or disability of the Chief, the Mayor shall designate a police officer to be acting Chief, and such Chief shall perform the duties and exercise the power and authority of the Chief, but shall be entitled to no additional salary.
B. 
The Chief of Police and each full-time police officer shall devote full time to Police Department duties and shall not engage in any other business, profession or occupation, either directly or indirectly, unless approved in writing by the Chief of Police, after it has been determined not to conflict with Department policies.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
A. 
The Chief of Police shall adopt written internal rules and regulations for the government, discipline, equipment and uniforms of police officers, fixing their duties, and prescribing penalties for violation of any such rules and regulations.
B. 
The Chief of Police shall have custody, care and control of the public property and equipment of the Police Department, subject to the approval of the City Council. He shall conduct yearly surveys of such property and equipment, arrange for the salvaging of discarded or impaired items, and submit recommendations as to future needs.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to keep an accurate and complete record of all complaints, arrests and traffic violations. The Chief shall also keep a record of the accomplishments and performances of each police officer.
D. 
The Chief of Police shall, immediately following the end of each calendar month, cause to be submitted to the City Council a written report on all activities and transactions of the Department during the month, to include new hires. He shall also submit a report at the end of each calendar year. He shall include either in the annual report, or with the proposed departmental budget for the ensuing year, such recommendations as he shall deem advisable with respect to departmental organization, personnel, or equipment.
E. 
All funds arising out of Police Department operations that may be collected by any member of the Department shall be deposited with the Clerk/Treasurer or someone designated by said officer not later than the succeeding business day. The Chief of Police shall file with the Clerk/Treasurer or someone designated by said officer, accompanying each deposit, a statement showing in detail the source of such receipts, and the Chief shall affix thereto his certificate stating that the money so paid is all of the funds collected or received by the Department since the preceding statement so filed.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
Each member of the Police Department shall wear a suitable badge, to be furnished by the City, and every member of the Police Department shall, while on duty, wear a uniform which shall comply with the rules and regulations. The Chief may issue written orders authorizing the performance of a specific duty while not in uniform. Any member of the Department who shall lose or destroy such badge or other property furnished by the City shall be required to pay the cost of replacement. Whenever any member shall terminate membership in the Department he shall immediately deliver his badge and all other City property in his possession, to the Chief of Police, and all sums due said member shall be withheld pending final settlement.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
Each applicant for the position of Chief of Police or police officer shall meet the minimum standards as set forth by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) Section 1002 and Section 1003.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
A. 
Each member of the Department shall be subject to suspension without pay for a period not to exceed 30 days; to demotion or removal from office or employment for misconduct, incompetency, inefficiency, cowardice, or failure to perform duties, or to observe the rules and regulations, but subject to the right of appeal of the aggrieved party to the Council in the manner set forth herein.
B. 
Any Department member shall, within three days after the effective date of such suspension, demotion or discharge, be entitled to receive a written statement of the reasons for such action from the person issuing the order, one copy to be filed with the City Clerk and another to be furnished to the member affected by the action. Within seven days after the receipt of such written statement, the member concerned may file with the City Clerk a written request that the Council review such suspension, demotion or removal. Within five days of the receipt of a request for an appeal by the City Clerk, the City Council shall meet to review the appeal.
C. 
Such action shall be taken by the Mayor, in the case of the Chief of Police, or in the case of another member of the Department, the Chief of Police.
D. 
The Council may make or cause to be made, such investigation as it may deem necessary and thereafter hold a public hearing at which time it shall hear evidence for and against the party aggrieved. Hearings may be informally conducted and the strict rules of evidence need not apply, written conclusion of findings of the Council shall be rendered within 10 days after the matter is submitted and thereupon be certified to the official from whose order the appeal was taken. Such findings and conclusions of the Council may contain such recommendations as it shall deem warranted.
[Adopted 6-21-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-21]
The Mayor may, in the case of riot or other emergency, appoint for a specified term as many special policeman as may be necessary. During such term, the special policeman shall possess only those powers and perform those duties as shall be specifically assigned to him by the Chief of Police. Such term of appointment shall expire not more than one week following the termination of any riot or other emergency.