Article 139
DEPARTMENT OF POLICE*
Sections:
139.01 Supervision by police chief – Qualifications and duties.
139.02 Department composition – Designation of officers.
*Editor’s note: The City of Meadville through collective bargaining contracts with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment and other conditions of employment for employees of the police department, except for probationers and the police chief, insofar as it is practicable and legal under the present Third Class City Code and the council-manager charter plan. Copies of the current labor relations agreement are available at the office of the city clerk.
139.01 Supervision by police chief – Qualifications and duties.
(A) The police department shall be under the direction of the chief of police.
(B) The members of the police department shall possess the qualifications and perform the duties as prescribed in the Third Class City Code.
(C) In addition to other duties which may be assigned by the city manager, the chief of police shall:
(1) Be responsible for the preservation of the public peace and order, the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders of law and ordinances, the protection of persons and property and the enforcement of the criminal laws of the United States, the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the penal ordinances of the city as are applicable and within the jurisdiction of the police department.
(2) Assign officers to shifts, and make any other work assignments when he shall deem it necessary for the proper operation of the department. Special work assignments of a permanent nature shall be issued in writing with a copy filed with the city manager.
(3) Designate a qualified officer of the department to act as police instructor, who shall conduct such schools as the chief shall order. (Ord. 2683 § 9, 1968)
139.02 Department composition – Designation of officers.
The police department of the City of Meadville shall consist of one police officer to be designated as the chief of police; two police officers to be designated as lieutenants of police; two police officers to be designated as investigative sergeants; one police officer to be designated as safety patrol officer; three police officers to be designated as sergeants of police; three police officers to be designated as corporal of police and 14 police officers who shall serve as patrolmen. The police department of the City of Meadville shall consist of not more than 26 members, exclusive of extra patrolmen. The compensation of all members of the police department of the City of Meadville shall be fixed by the city council of the City of Meadville from time to time in budget ordinances. (Ord. 2955 § 1, 1978)
139.03 VASCAR.
(A) The police department of the City of Meadville is hereby authorized and directed to use the electro-mechanical timing system known as "VASCAR" for the enforcement of the speed and traffic laws of the City of Meadville on all streets, highways, and other public ways within the city.
(B) Use of the VASCAR system hereinabove authorized shall be at the direction and control of the chief of police.
(C) The police department is hereby authorized to direct the placement of such signs as may be necessary or appropriate to announce the use of the said VASCAR system within the city. (Ord. 3024, 1982)