[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of New Castle 2-4-2020 by L.L. No. 1-2020. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The purpose of this chapter shall be to provide for the efficient
administration of the Police Department of the Town of New Castle
(the "Department").
The Town Board hereby establishes a Board of Police Commissioners
which shall consist of the Town Board. The Supervisor shall chair
the Board of Police Commissioners.
The Board of Police Commissioners shall have all of the powers and duties granted to a Board of Police Commissioners under the Westchester County Police Act (Chapter 104 of the Laws of 1936), except to the extent those powers or duties are otherwise delegated to the Chief of Police by this chapter.
A.
In carrying out the day-to-day operations of the Department, the
Chief of Police shall have reasonable discretion to take such actions
as are necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the
Department, in a manner consistent with accepted police practices;
provided, however, that fundamental policy changes, including those
which should properly be included in Department rules and regulations,
shall be subject to approval by the Board of Police Commissioners
and all other applicable laws governing such activities.
B.
Except as to the discipline of the Chief of Police, all formal departmental
disciplinary charges shall be brought by the Chief of Police, subject
to the requirements of applicable laws. All such charges shall be
heard either by the Board of Police Commissioners, or by a hearing
officer appointed by the Board of Police Commissioners, at the Board
of Police Commissioners' discretion. In the event a hearing officer
is appointed to hear disciplinary charges, the hearing officer shall
issue findings of fact and recommendations on guilt or innocence and
penalty, if any, and the Board of Commissioners shall retain the sole
and exclusive right and authority to make the final determination
as to guilt or innocence and the appropriate penalty, if any. In the
case of discipline of the Chief of Police, such charges shall be brought
by the Supervisor of the Town Board and shall be heard either by the
Board of Police Commissioners or by a hearing officer appointed by
the Board of Police Commissioners, at the Board of Police Commissioners'
discretion. In the event a hearing officer is appointed to hear disciplinary
charges against the Chief of Police, the hearing officer shall issue
findings of fact and recommendations on guilt or innocence and penalty,
if any, and the Board of Commissioners shall retain the sole and exclusive
right and authority to make the final determination as to guilt or
innocence and the appropriate penalty, if any.
It is the purpose and intent of this chapter to supersede the Westchester County Police Act (Chapter 104 of the Laws of 1936), as it relates to the powers and duties of the Chief of Police and the Board of Police Commissioners. The Town Board, pursuant to the authority granted to the Town Board by the Municipal Home Rule Law, may supersede such a special act of the legislature, and to the extent that such special act of the legislature is inconsistent with this chapter, then the Westchester County Police Act (Chapter 104 of the Laws of 1936) is hereby superseded.
In all other respects, the Police Department of the Town of
New Castle shall be governed by applicable law.
