The Police Department shall consist of a Chief
of Police, captains and such number of police officers as the Board
of Selectmen shall deem necessary.
[Amended 6-7-2023 ATM by Art. 20]
A.Â
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police
Department, subject to the general supervision and control of the
Board of Selectmen. He shall have control of the Department, its officers
and members and constables and special police officers when in the
service of the Department. He shall be responsible for the discipline
and efficiency of his Department and shall enforce the rules and regulations
thereof.
B.Â
The Chief of Police shall keep an account of all duties
performed and of all absences from duty, with the causes thereof.
He shall take notice of all nuisances, defects and obstructions in
the streets and other public places in the Town and shall take over
all proper measures relative thereto. He shall devote his whole time
to the duties of his office and shall have his office at the police
station.
C.Â
There shall be an officer on-duty within the Town
during all 24 hours of the day.
The Chief of Police shall have the care of the
police station and of all property of the Town used by the Department
and shall keep a full and complete record of the Police Department's
business. He shall make reports at such time as may be required by
the Board of Selectmen regarding the doings of his Department. He
shall annually make a written report to the Board of Selectmen, to
be printed in the Annual Town Report, of the organization and condition
of the Police Department, with a resume of the business and expenses
of the Department for the preceding year, together with such recommendations
as he may think advisable for the future conduct of the Department.
The Chief of Police shall have the power to
relieve temporarily from duty any of his subordinates for neglect
or nonperformance of duty, for any act contrary to good order and
discipline or for the violation of any of the rules and regulations
of the Police Department. In such case he shall, within 48 hours,
furnish the Board of Selectmen, in writing, a statement of his reasons
for relieving such subordinates from duty.
The Board of Selectmen, at its pleasure or upon
written request, may appoint citizens of the Town of good moral character
and habits and 21 years of age or over as special police officers
for specific duties. Appointments shall be for a period of one year,
unless terminated sooner by resignation or revocation by the Board
of Selectmen on recommendation of the Chief of Police. All special
police officers shall be subject to the authority of the Chief of
Police and shall not carry firearms except by his express authorization.
Badges and instructions as to their duties shall be furnished by the
Police Department.
The Chief of Police and each regular member
of the Police Department shall devote his entire time to the business
of the Police Department. Any other activities must have the approval
of the Chief of Police.
It shall be the duty of each police officer
patrolling a regular beat to report immediately all accidents happening
on the public way involving injury to persons or property for which
the Town may be liable, and he shall make a careful investigation,
securing the names and addresses of all persons involved and witnesses
thereto. He shall incorporate the same in his report to the Chief
of Police, who in turn shall make a full written report immediately
thereof to the Board of Selectmen.
