Town of Southold, NY Article I Organization

§ A290-1 Powers and duties.

The Police Department and its police members have the power and it is their duty to:

A. Protect life and property.

B. Prevent crime.

C. Detect and arrest offenders.

D. Preserve the public peace.

E. Enforce all laws and ordinances over which the Police Department has jurisdiction.

§ A290-2 Chief of Police.

The Chief of Police is the chief executive of the Police Department, subject to the rules and regulations prescribed by the Town Board. The government and control of the Police Department and its members is vested in the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Town Board of the Town of Southold to exercise command of the Police Department and its members. (See Article 10 of the Town Law.)

§ A290-3 Absence or disability of Chief.

During the temporary absence or disability of the Chief of Police, when no special designation is made by competent authority, the command automatically devolves upon the senior ranking member of the command, who shall possess all the powers and perform all the duties of the Chief of Police, and he shall carry out the orders previously given, which orders shall not, except in cases of extreme emergency, be countermanded nor set aside; however, when such action is taken, a report shall be made to the Chief of Police in writing stating the reasons therefor in such instances.

§ A290-4 Order of rank.

The order of rank in the Police Department shall be as follows:

A. Chief of Police.

B. Lieutenant.

C. Sergeant.

D. Police officer.

E. Any and all other classifications established by resolution of the Town Board of the Town of Southold.

§ A290-5 Seniority.

A. Seniority is determined by:

(1) First, by rank.

(2) Second, by continuous service in rank.

(3) Third, by date of appointment to previous rank or ranks.

(4) Fourth, by date of appointment to Department. Any member who has been transferred from another police force within Suffolk County shall, for the purpose of determining seniority, be credited with such prior service.

(5) Fifth, by highest score on the civil service list from which appointments were made at the time of initial appointment examination.

(6) Sixth, by age (older employee is senior).

(7) Seventh, alphabetically by surname.

B. The method above shall be utilized by starting with the first subdivision. If that does not determine seniority, the next subdivision shall be used, etc. until the seniority is determined.

C. For the purposes of this rule and regulation, time served in a member's present rank shall have added thereto time served in a higher rank or ranks.