Arroyo Grande Municipal Code Ch. 2.34 Police Department

The police department and the office of chief of police is created and established. The chief of police shall be appointed or removed by the city manager.

(Ord. 547 § 3(E), 2003)

(Ord. No. 2025-009, § 8, 9-9-2025)

The responsibility of the police department is to maintain the peace within the city; the enforcement in the city of all laws of the United States, the state of California, and ordinances of the city, except when such enforcement is by law made the responsibility of another department, or when such enforcement is the sole responsibility of a state or federal agency or officer; and to perform other public safety related services as necessary. The chief of police and police officers of the police department are peace officers pursuant to California Penal Code Section 830.1 and/or other applicable state law, and shall have all the powers and authority granted to such peace officers and shall be entitled to the same protections as provided by law.

(Ord. 547 § 3(E), 2003)

As set forth in California Government Code Section 38630(a), the police department is under the control and direction of the chief of police. The chief of police shall, in the lawful exercise of his/her duties, have all the powers and authority that are now and hereafter may be conferred upon the chief of police by the laws of the state of California and shall be entitled to the same protection, including that specified in California Government Code Section 41601.

(Ord. 547 § 3(E), 2003)

The chief of police will organize, administer and maintain the police department. The chief of police is responsible for the supervision and control of all functions and components of the police department and for the performance of those functions therein. In executing these responsibilities, the chief of police has the authority to establish organizational goals and objectives, and to develop and implement policies, procedures, rules and regulations for the administration and operation of the police department, including the fixing of duties, responsibilities and authority, setting standards for performance, establishing rules of conduct and discipline, establishing standards for and designating uniforms and equipment, regulating the use of discretion, deployment of personnel, establishing standards for the training and development of personnel, prescribing penalties for violations for any such rules and regulations and providing for their enforcement, and the implementation of other such policies, procedures, rules and regulations as he/she deems necessary.

(Ord. 547 § 3(E), 2003)

The city manager shall be the immediate supervisor of the chief of police, and all policies, directives, and orders to the chief of police shall be made by or transmitted through the city manager.

(Ord. 547 § 3(E), 2003)

The police department shall consist of the chief of police and such subordinate police officers and other personnel as recommended by the chief of police and authorized by the city council. All subordinate personnel are responsible to and subject to the orders of the chief of police, either directly or through the established chain-of-command and shall be subject to call by the chief of police, or his or her designee, at any time during the day or night.

(Ord. 547 § 3(E), 2003)