§ 32.73. Duties and responsibilities of department.

The police department shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(a)

Law enforcement. To prevent, as well as to detect crime; to obey laws and ordinances, as well as to enforce them; to observe official orders and to communicate them as directed; to combine courtesy with efficiency; and to protect the city and the person and property of its citizens.

(b)

Providing information; equality. To furnish information and aid freely to traveler, transient and citizen alike; and to see that the principle of equality before the law is faithfully observed.

(c)

Control over personnel; search of prisoners; standards of conduct; city property in hands of personnel. To insure that police officers, detectives, and other personnel shall properly qualify before assuming to act as officers, give receipts to the chief of police for all equipment received, and report to headquarters as required to receive orders or information and to make official reports. They shall assist in the search of prisoners arrested by them and identify by signature or initials any property found in the illegal possession of any prisoner or otherwise. They shall be prompt in reporting, loyal in service, honest in their actions, courteous in their conduct, discreet in their conversation, and courageous in the performance of duty. Upon retiring from the service, they shall turn in to the chief of police and take his receipt for all equipment and property in their possession belonging to the city.

(d)

Arrests. To make arrests for all offenses committed in their presence, and for other offenses, personnel shall be subject to the same rules or limitations that govern arrest by other peace officers under state law. If the attention of any police officer is called to the fact that an offense is being committed, he shall investigate the matter at the place mentioned immediately, or cause the same to be done; and if he finds that any offense is being committed in his presence, he shall arrest the perpetrator. Persons arrested shall be delivered to the county sheriff's department forthwith.

('78 Code, § 15.5-15; Ord. 80-13, passed 4-7-80)