Article III. Policemen.
Sec. 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 must 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 1932, § 223.)
Sec. 21. Attendance, obedience to orders, etc.
Punctual attendance, prompt obedience to orders and conformity
to these rules and regulations will be rigidly enforced. (Id., §
224.)
Sec. 22. Absence.
No member of the police force shall leave the city or be absent
from duty without permission of the chief. (Id., § 225.)
Sec. 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. (Id., § 227.)
Sec. 24. Presents, fees or rewards.
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 or council. This provision shall
not apply to rewards offered for arrests of criminals or return of
property, except rewards offered by the city. (Id., § 228.)
For state statute containing similar exception as to rewards, see
§ 2991 of Michie's Virginia Code of 1942.
Sec. 25. Property supposed to be stolen or lost.
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. (Id., § 229.)
Sec. 26. Vigilance to prevent crime.
Every member of the police force must endeavor, by his constant
vigilance, to prevent the perpetration of crime within his
beat; and 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. (Id., § 230.)
Sec. 27. Inspection of doors, windows, etc.
Every policeman must 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. (Id., §
231.)
Sec. 28. Acquaintance with streets, property and persons.
Every policeman must thoroughly acquaint himself with all
streets, courts and buildings within his beat; and so far as practicable,
seek to recognize all persons residing therein. (Id., § 232.)
Sec. 29. Watching conduct of persons of bad character,
etc.
Every policeman must strictly watch the conduct of all persons
of bad character in such manner as 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. (Id., § 233.)
Sec. 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 will see to it that prisoners while there receive proper care
and, should a prisoner need medical attention, he shall immediately
call a doctor. (Id., § 234.)
Sec. 31. Use of intoxicants; entering certain houses.
No policeman shall be allowed to 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. (Id., § 235.)
Sec. 32. Deportment on duty.
Each member of the police force must be quiet, civil, courteous
and orderly in his deportment and conduct, he must at all times
refrain from violent or profane language, and in the performance
of his duty he must maintain full command of his temper. And,
when on a tour of service, policemen must 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
really requiring their assistance or direction. They must 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. (Id., §
236.)
Sec. 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. (Id., § 237.)
Sec. 34. Leaving beat.
No policeman shall leave the beat assigned 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. (Id., § 238.)
Sec. 35. Giving name and number.
Every policeman must give his name and number to all persons
who may inquire. (Id., § 239.)
Sec. 36. Must know rules and regulations.
All policemen must acquire a full knowledge of the requirements
and the rules and regulations provided for the government of the
police force, and of the ordinances of the city, in order to understand
and properly perform their duties. (Id., § 240.)
Sec. 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 the city ordinances, the
names of offenders, witnesses, etc.; fourth, all street electric lights
not burning, length of time out if possible, and their location,
which information they shall report daily in writing to the officer
in charge at the station house. (Id., § 241.)
Sec. 38. Duty in plain clothes.
Policemen, when on duty in plain clothes, are to make known
to any person interfering with them in the execution of their duty
that they are policemen; they must 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.
(Id., § 242.)
Sec. 39. Reporting violation of revenue laws.
Policemen shall aid the commissioner of revenue, as far as possible,
in detecting parties violating the revenue laws. (Id., § 244.)
Sec. 40. Hours of duty.
The hours of active duty per day shall be such as may be fixed
by the council. The chief, under the direction of the mayor, shall
fix the daily hours and location of duty of the members of the
police force so as to give the best police protection. (Id., § 245.)
Sec. 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. (Id., § 248.)
Sec. 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. (Id., § 247.)
Sec. 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. (Id., § 250.)
