Los Banos Municipal Code Art. 2 Department of Public Safety

Note: Article 2 entitled "Volunteer Fire Department", consisting of Sections 2-3.201 through 2-3.208, codified from Ordinance No. 95, repealed by Ordinance No. 789, effective December 2, 1988.

Sections 2-3.201 through 2-3.212, codified from Ordinance No. 789, as amended by Ordinance No. 807, effective September 15, 1989, amended in their entirety by Ordinance No. 808, effective September 15, 1989.

A Department of Public Safety is established for the City. The Department of Public Safety shall be responsible for the administration and provision of public safety services which shall include police protection, fire protection, and other related public safety services.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

There is created the position of Director of Public Safety who shall serve as administrative head of the Department of Public Safety. The person selected to serve in the capacity of Director of Public Safety shall have a background as a Fire Services or Law Enforcement Administrator. In the event his or her background is that of a Fire Services Administrator, he or she shall be entitled to all rights and benefits afforded a firefighter. In the event his or her background is that of a law enforcement administrator, he or she shall be entitled to all rights and benefits afforded a law enforcement officer.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

Within the Department of Public Safety the following Divisions are created:

(a) Police Services Division;

(b) Fire Services Division; and

(c) Animal Control Division.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

The position of Chief of Police Services is created, which person shall be responsible for management, administration, and provision of the Police Services Division and Animal Control Division. The Chief of Police Services shall be selected by the Director of Public Safety and shall report to and be subject to supervision of the Director of Public Safety.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

The position of Chief of Fire Services is created, which person shall be responsible for management, administration, and provision of the Fire Services Division, which shall include the Volunteer Fire Department. The Chief of Fire Services shall report to and be supervised by the Director of Public Safety. Selection of the Chief of Fire Services shall be made by the Director of Public Safety. As part of his/her selection criterion, the Director of Public Safety shall give due consideration to the input and advice offered as to the desirability of candidates by the membership of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department through its then serving Assistant Fire Chiefs.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

There is hereby established a volunteer fire department which shall be known as the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department. The Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department shall function as an integral part of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Fire Services. The Director of Public Safety shall be responsible for overall administrative control of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department. The Chief of Fire Services shall serve as Chief of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department, and under the supervision of the Director of Public Safety, shall be responsible for management, administration, and provision of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

The Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department shall consist of 40 members. The Chief of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department, who shall be the person serving as Chief of Fire Services, shall be considered as one member of the Volunteer Fire Department. The remaining 39 members of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department shall be selected in accordance with the established selection guidelines of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department. Two of these members shall be designated as Assistant Volunteer Fire Chiefs; three of the members shall be designated as Volunteer Fire Captains; two of the members shall be designated as Volunteer Fire Lieutenants; and the remaining 32 members shall be designated as Volunteer Firefighters. Selection of Assistant Volunteer Chiefs, Volunteer Captains, and Volunteer Lieutenants, shall be made in accordance with established selection guidelines of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

The members of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department shall operate under the rules and regulations established by the Director of Public Safety and/or his/her deputy, the Chief of Fire Services/Volunteer Fire Chief. Additionally; the members of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department shall make rules and regulations regarding the selection of members, retirement of members, expelling members, performance requirements of members, and attendance requirements of members. Such rules and regulations shall be subject to approval by the Director of Public Safety before they become effective.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

Members of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department shall attend all fires in the City and perform such duties in suppressing any fire as may be directed by a Fire Services Supervisor. Additionally, members of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department shall assist with fire suppression and rescue duties in locations outside the City when directed to do so by a Fire Services Supervisor.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

Members of the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department have a duty and responsibility to safeguard all public and private property under their control or supervision.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

It is unlawful for any person to pass beyond any fire lines established by the Los Banos Volunteer Fire Department at any fire or disaster scene, and any person passing beyond such fire lines shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be punishable as set forth in Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)

It is unlawful for any person to interfere with, molest, damage, or tamper with any fire personnel, fire apparatus or equipment, fire vehicle, or building, belonging to the Fire Department. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be punishable as set forth in Chapter 2 of Title 1 of this Code.

(§ 1, Ord. 808, eff. September 15, 1989)