Article III. Policemen.
Sec. 23-20. Duties generally.
Each member of the police force shall devote his whole time
and attention to the business of the police department, and
although certain hours are allotted to the respective members
for the ordinary performance of duty, they shall at all times
be prepared to act immediately on notice that their services
are required by the proper officer or at the call of any citizen.
(Code 1959, § 23-20.)
Sec. 23-21. Attendance, obedience to orders, etc.
Punctual attendance, prompt obedience to orders and conformity
to the rules and regulations contained in this chapter
will be rigidly enforced. (Code 1959, § 23-21.)
Sec. 23-22. Absence.
No member of the police force shall leave the city or be
absent from duty without permission of the chief. (Code
1959, § 23-22.)
Sec. 23-23. Dress on duty, badge, etc.
Every policeman, when entering on duty, must be neat in
person, having his badge, clothes and shoes clean and his
dress in conformity with the regulations. (Code 1959, § 2323.)
Sec. 23-24. Presents, fees or rewards.[379]
No member of the police force shall receive any present, fee
or reward for his service as policeman, other than the regular
salary, except by consent of the mayor by the city council. This
provision shall not apply to rewards offered for arrests of
criminals or return of property, except rewards offered by the
city. (Code 1959, § 23-24.)
Sec. 23-25. Property supposed to be stolen or lost; abandoned
property.
Property coming into possession of a policeman, supposed
to be stolen or lost, shall be given to the officer in charge of
the station house, accompanied by a report to the chief, stating
all the circumstances in connection therewith.
In the event any personal property be found by any policeman
abandoned on the streets or public places in the city, such
property shall be brought to the station house and an effort
to ascertain and locate the owner of such property shall be
made. If, after sixty days shall have elapsed from the time
such property is brought to the station house, the ownership
thereof has not been ascertained, the chief of police shall proceed
to dispose of such property by sale at public auction, by
negotiated sale or by destruction of property inherently dangerous
or having no value. The net proceeds of such sales
shall be paid to the director of finance. (Code 1959, § 23-25;
2-22-72.)
Sec. 23-26. Vigilance to prevent crime.
Every member of the police force shall endeavor, by his
constant vigilance, to prevent the perpetration of crime within
his beat. If offenses against persons and property become
frequent occurrences along his beat, they will be deemed sufficient
proof of his negligence and inefficiency to warrant a
suspension or dismissal. (Code 1959, § 23-26.)
Sec. 23-27. Inspection of doors, windows, etc.
Every policeman shall inspect every part of his beat during
his tour of duty and carefully examine all doors and low
windows of business houses to see that they are properly
fastened. (Code 1959, § 23-27.)
Sec. 23-28. Acquaintance with streets, property and persons.
Every policeman shall thoroughly acquaint himself with all
streets, courts and buildings within his beat and, so far as
practicable, seek to recognize all persons residing therein.
(Code 1959, § 23-28.)
Sec. 23-29. Watching conduct of persons of bad character, etc.
Every policeman shall strictly watch the conduct of all persons
of bad character in such manner that it will not be evident
to them that they are being watched, fixing in his mind
such impressions as will enable him to recognize persons
whom he frequently meets in the streets at night, and to the
utmost of his power prevent the commission of assaults,
breaches of peace and other crimes about to be committed.
(Code 1959, § 23-29.)
Sec. 23-30. Conduct toward offenders and prisoners.
When it becomes necessary to take a person into custody,
the policeman shall do so in as easy and quiet a manner as
possible, using only sufficient force to secure the prisoner, and
in no instance shall he strike a prisoner, except in self-defense.
He shall see that the prisoner is properly dealt with and cared
for until he is taken from his custody according to law and
any unnecessary deprivations and abuses of prisoners will
meet with reproof and punishment. The officer who may be
in charge of the station house shall see to it that prisoners
while there receive proper care and, should a prisoner need
medical attention, he shall immediately call a doctor. (Code
1959, § 23-30.)
Sec. 23-31. Use of intoxicants; entering certain houses.
No policeman shall take a drink of any kind of intoxicating
liquors while on duty, nor shall any policeman enter any drinking
saloon or house of ill fame, except in the strict performance
of his official duty. (Code 1959, § 23-31.)
Sec. 23-32. Deportment on duty.
Each member of the police force shall be quiet, civil, courteous
and orderly in his deportment and conduct, he shall at
all times refrain from violent or profane language and in the
performance of his duty he must maintain full command of
his temper. When on a tour of service, policemen shall not,
except when on duty together, walk or talk with each other
or with any other person whom they meet on any part of their
beats, unless it be to receive or communicate information appertaining
to their duties or to answer civilly, but briefly,
questions of strangers or citizens requiring their assistance
or direction. They shall not under any circumstance, unless in
discharge of their duties, enter any house, sit down, stop at
the corners of the streets (for a longer period than ten minutes),
or in any manner linger along their routes, but are expected
constantly to patrol their beats. (Code 1959, § 23-32.)
Sec. 23-33. Taking notice of vehicles at night.
Policemen shall take particular notice of all automobiles
and other vehicles at night and all persons who, under any
circumstances, excite suspicion. (Code 1959, § 23-33.)
Sec. 23-34. Leaving beat.
No policeman shall leave the beat assigned to him, unless
to answer a call from an adjoining beat, to convey a prisoner
to the station house or by permission of the chief or lieutenant.
(Code 1959, § 23-34.)
Sec. 23-35. Giving name and number.
Every policeman shall give his name and number to all persons
who may inquire. (Code 1959, § 23-35.)
Sec. 23-36. Knowledge of rules and regulations.
All policemen shall acquire a full knowledge of the requirements
and the rules and regulations provided for the government
of the police force and of this Code and other ordinances
of the city, in order to understand and properly perform their
duties. (Code 1959, § 23-36.)
Sec. 23-37. Information to be reported.
Every policeman shall keep a diary or book, in which shall
be noted by him, for report at the station house: First, doors
or entrances of all stores or business houses that he may find
open during the nighttime; second, all nuisances on his beat
that should be removed promptly; third, all violations of this
Code and other city ordinances, the names of offenders, witnesses,
etc.; fourth, all street electric lights not burning, the
length of time out, if possible, and their location. All such
information they shall report daily in writing to the officer in
charge at the station house. (Code 1959, § 23-37.)
Sec. 23-38. Duty in plain clothes.
Policemen, when on duty in plain clothes, shall make known
to any person interfering with them in the execution of their
duty that they are policemen; they shall exercise their discretion
as to the time of making such communication so as
not to interfere with the object they have in view, so that
if assaulted or interfered with the assailant cannot plead
ignorance of the officer's real character. (Code 1959, § 23-38.)
Sec. 23-39. Reporting violation of revenue laws.
Policemen shall aid the commissioner of revenue, as far as
possible, in detecting parties violating the revenue laws. (Code
1959, § 23-39.)
Sec. 23-40. Hours of duty.
The hours of active duty per day shall be such as may be
fixed by the city council. The chief, under the direction of the
city manager, shall fix the daily hours and location of duty of
the members of the police force so as to give the best police
protection. (Code 1959, § 23-40.)
Sec. 23-41. Interest in outside business.
No member of the police department shall have any interest
in any other outside business which may come in conflict with
his duty as a public officer of the city. (Code 1959, § 23-41.)
Sec. 23-42. Accountable for equipment.
All equipment issued by the city to the police department
shall be charged to them, and each member shall be held accountable
for the safe return of whatever is furnished him.
(Code 1959, § 23-42.)
Sec. 23-43. Political activities.
Every policeman shall exercise the right of a citizen unquestioned
at all elections but no member of the police department
shall take an active part therein or in the political advancement
of any party, clique, combination or individual.
(Code 1959, § 23-43.)
