Township of Athens, PA Article II Duties and Responsibilities

[Adopted 12-21-1977 by Ord. No. 36]

§ 39-2 Duties of Department and Police Chief established.

There having been previously created a Police Department for the Township of Athens, the following article is adopted, setting forth the respective duties and responsibilities of the Police Department and the Chief of Police of Athens Township.

§ 39-3 Duties of Police Chief.

The duty of the Chief of Police is as follows:

A. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to assign all patrolmen to their respective duties.

B. The Chief of Police shall be responsible for all reports to the Board of Supervisors and for all reports that must be compiled for the state and federal governments.

C. The Chief of Police will be aware of all arrests made in the Township of Athens and will see that all citations and criminal complaints are made out properly before going to a Magisterial District Judge.

D. The Chief of Police shall be responsible for the action of the members of the Department whenever applicable. He shall exercise complete authority over them.

E. The Chief of Police shall be responsible to see that all Department members are complying with the rules and regulations and performing their proper duties.

F. The Chief of Police shall have direct control over all Department property and personnel and shall have the right and duty of disciplining members of the Police Department for violation of the rules and regulations of the Department as set forth according to law. A report of any action taken by the Police Chief shall be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors within a period not in excess of 10 days after the action shall be taken.

G. It shall be the duty of the Chief to compile a monthly report of activities for the Department and forward the same to the Board of Supervisors.

H. It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to prepare a yearly budget for the Department with a complete breakdown for each expense.

I. The Chief of Police shall make himself available at all times.

J. It shall be the duty of the Chief to see that all personnel attend proper schooling when necessary and also to attempt to provide any other schooling that may be available, subject to the funding of the Board of Supervisors.

K. The Chief shall inspect all equipment within the Department and see to its proper maintenance and repair.

L. It shall be the duty of the Chief to see that all complaints and requests of Township residents are properly handled by all members of the Police Department, except subject to the oversight by the committee of Athens Township relating to the Police Department

§ 39-4 Appointment of patrolmen.

A. Regular patrolmen shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and shall be under the direct supervision of the Chief of Police. They shall be considered on duty 24 hours per day.

B. Part-time patrolmen shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors and shall be under the direct supervision of the Chief of Police. They shall have the same authority as a regular patrolman but will be on duty only when scheduled or as called upon by the Chief of Police, with their hiring being at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors.

§ 39-5 Duties of patrolmen.

Following shall be the duties of any patrolman of Athens Township:

A. It shall be the duty of all patrolmen to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the Township of Athens.

B. While on duty, each officer shall conduct himself in a courteous manner. All officers shall be in direct contact with the officially designated Township police dispatcher at all times either via radio or telephone unless otherwise directed by the Chief of Police, in which case the Chief shall see that there is proper coverage for all other problems that may arise.

C. All officers shall follow all orders given by the Chief, whether verbal or in writing, and shall be subject to whatever disciplinary action the Chief deems necessary for violation of any order.

D. All complaints received shall be responded to in an expedient manner. Each complaint shall be properly recorded with particular attention to the time received, time of arrival and action taken. Where follow-up is required, the officer shall take whatever steps are necessary to properly conclude the complaint as soon as reasonably possible. The written report shall be left in the office at all times it is not being worked on and shall be turned over for departmental filing when concluded.

E. All officers, while off duty, shall conduct themselves as if they were on duty. They shall not do anything to submit the Department to ridicule or embarrassment.

F. All officers shall cooperate with all local, county, state and federal law enforcement officials.

G. All officers are subject to emergency duty when deemed necessary by the Chief of Police.

H. All officers shall fully assist with requests from the Fire Department for investigations or traffic control at scenes of fires.

I. All officers shall report for court duty when summoned or subpoenaed. All officers shall appear in District Justice Court when they are properly notified.

J. Obedience to all laws of the commonwealth, including laws relating to townships of the second class as they relate to police officers, is expected under this article and any rules and regulations adopted by Athens Township.

§ 39-6 Rules and regulations.

It is hereby provided that the Athens Township Supervisors may at any time adopt such rules and regulations relating to the Police Department, the Police Chief and patrolmen as may be desirable and necessary for the fulfillment of their duties.