Colfax Municipal Code Ch. 2.32 Police Department

There is created a police department for the city which shall consist of a chief of police and as many employees as the council may designate from time to time.

(Prior code § 2-3.201)

The chief of police shall be appointed by the city manager, with the approval of a majority of the council, from a list of eligible candidates supplied by the personnel board. The chief of police shall serve at the pleasure of the city manager and may be removed by the city manager at any time thereafter with the consent of a majority of the council.

(Prior code § 2-3.202)

The city manager shall be the immediate supervisor of the chief of police and all policies, directives and orders from the city government to the chief of police shall be made by or transmitted through the city manager as the executive head of the city government. The chief of police shall report directly to the city manager and not to the council, to individual members thereof or to any other committee or commission.

(Prior code § 2-3.203)

The chief of police shall direct the administration and operations of the police department and, in addition to policies transmitted to him or her by the city manager, shall establish such other policies, directives, rules and regulations for the administration and operations of the police department as he or she sees fit. The chief of police shall serve as the appointing authority for appointments to any position within the police department, other than his or her own and shall have the power to suspend or dismiss any employee consistent with the provisions of this code.

(Prior code § 2-3.204)

The chief of police shall lead by professional example and by participating as a member of the city management team. He or she shall organize the police department to accomplish its mission and shall coordinate and control the operations of major divisions within the police department, as well as its relations with other law enforcement agencies. Other responsibilities shall include such activities as:

A. The review and evaluation of police department procedures and policies;

B. Conducting staff meetings and inspections to evaluate and improve departmental performance and efficiency;

C. The direction of the police department toward meeting goals and objectives;

D. Planning for departmental needs and programs;

E. Providing advice and counsel to the city manager on matters pertaining to law enforcement;

F. Providing information and maintaining external relations with the public;

G. The preparation and control of the annual operating budget for the police department; and

H. Any other responsibilities which may be delegated by the city manager.

(Prior code § 2-3.205)

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 832.6(b) of the California Penal Code, all reserve officers of the Colfax police department who have been issued a Level 1 reserve officer certification prior to January 1, 1981, are determined to be qualified to perform general law enforcement duties by reason of their training and experience and are designated as peace officers and shall have the full powers and duties of peace officers as provided in Section 830.1 of the California Penal Code.

(Ord. 436 § 1, 1995: prior code § 2-3.206)