[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of East Hampton 3-24-2023 by L.L. No. 3-2023. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Village of East Hampton recognizes that the Constitution of the State of New York and the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York afford villages the ability to structure their local governments as needed to promote the efficiency of village operations.
B. 
The Municipal Home Rule Law specifically authorizes a village to create or discontinue departments; to prescribe or modify the powers and duties of such departments; and to specify the powers, duties, qualifications, number and mode of selection of its officers and employees.
C. 
Pursuant to New York Village Law § 8-800, a board of trustees of a village may, by resolution, establish a police department in such village and appoint a chief of police and such personnel as may be needed, and fix their compensation, with the proviso that the village, upon establishing a police department, shall notice the Commissioner of the Division of Central Justice Services of such action within 30 days.
D. 
The Village Board of Trustees accordingly intends to exercise those powers to hereby codify the establishment of the Village of East Hampton Police Department as a Department of the Village government as set forth below.
A. 
The Village of East Hampton Police Department is constituted as a department of the Village government pursuant to New York State Village Law § 8-800.
B. 
The Mayor shall determine the number of captains, lieutenants, sergeants, patrolmen and civilian employees within the Police Department, all of whom shall be appointed by the Village Board of Trustees.
C. 
All Police Department personnel shall report to the Police Chief through the Departmental chain of command. The Police Chief shall report to Mayor or the Mayor's Designee.
D. 
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Mayor or the Mayor's designee shall be designated as the primary point of contact for the Police Chief in the following circumstances:
(1) 
A declared state of emergency;
(2) 
An active incident requiring immediate notification; or
(3) 
Exigent circumstances that affect the immediate health, safety, and welfare of the general public.
(4) 
After said notification, the Mayor shall advise the rest of the Village Board members as soon as is reasonable and appropriate.
E. 
Nothing herein shall limit the powers of any Village officer otherwise provided by New York State Law.