Chapter 2.15
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.15.030 Chief of police to be director.
2.15.040 Chief excluded from classified civil service.
2.15.045 Other positions excluded from classified civil service.
2.15.050 Functions and duties.
2.15.060 Chief—Powers and compensation.
2.15.070 Authority of chief—Reports to city manager.
2.15.080 Appointment of police officers.
2.15.090 Jurisdiction of civil service commission.
2.15.010 Department created.
Under the authority of RCW 35.23.440(30) and 35A.21.160 there shall be, and the city council does hereby create and establish, a department for the city to be known as the police department. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.020 Positions.
Positions within the police department shall consist of the chief of police and such other staff and line positions as may be established and authorized in the city’s annual budget. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.030 Chief of police to be director.
The chief of police shall be the director of the department and shall be appointed, supervised, and removed by the city manager, subject to applicable rules, regulations, or other tenure of office laws. In the event that a vacancy should occur in the position of chief, the duties of chief shall be assumed by the city manager or his designee. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.040 Chief excluded from classified civil service.
The chief of police shall not be included in the city’s classified civil service. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.045 Other positions excluded from classified civil service.
The positions of assistant chief, deputy chief, commander, and administrative assistant shall not be included in the city’s classified civil service. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.050 Functions and duties.
The functions and duties of the department shall include law enforcement, crime prevention and investigation, traffic control, parking enforcement, and such other related functions and duties as may be assigned by the city manager. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.060 Chief—Powers and compensation.
The chief of the department shall have all of the powers granted, together with all of the duties imposed, by the laws of the state of Washington relating to chiefs of police, and, in addition thereto, he shall have the power and duty to enforce the ordinances of the city and to perform such other services as the laws of the state of Washington and the ordinances of the city may now or hereafter require, and shall receive for the faithful performance of his duties such compensation as shall be fixed by the city council. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.070 Authority of chief—Reports to city manager.
The chief of police shall be the chief executive officer of the department, with the power and duty to make rules and regulations for its management and operation, and the final departmental authority on all matters of policy, operations, and discipline. He/she shall be authorized to appoint, supervise, and remove other employees, and other members of the department, subject to applicable civil service laws, rules, regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. He/she shall be responsible to the city manager for the operation of the department and shall provide the city manager with such reports as he may require. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.080 Appointment of police officers.
A. Pursuant to Article XI, Section 11 of the State Constitution, RCW 35.22.610 and 35A.21.160, and CMC 2.15.070, the chief of police may appoint city employees as regular or special police officers. The chief of police may also appoint volunteers as reserve police officers.
B. Regular Police Officer. A regular police officer means a city employee designated as a general authority peace officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020(3). A regular police officer shall have the authority and duty to enforce the laws of the state of Washington and the ordinances of the city, and to perform such other services as the laws of the state of Washington and the ordinances of the city may now or hereafter require.
C. Reserve Police Officer. A reserve police officer means a volunteer designated as a specially commissioned police officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020(5).
D. Special Police Officer. A special police officer means a city employee designated as a specially commissioned police officer as defined in RCW 10.93.020(5) and who has been granted a limited law enforcement or police commission by the chief of police to enforce some or all of the following laws and ordinances specified in this section:
1. RCW 46.19.050, Special parking privileges for persons with disabilities, restrictions, prohibitions, violations, penalties;
2. RCW 46.16.088, Illegally transferred license plates;
3. Chapter 46.55 RCW, Impounds of unauthorized vehicles and other impound situations authorized by local ordinance;
4. RCW 46.55.113(2)(b), Impound of vehicles in the public right-of-way that obstruct traffic or pose a threat to public safety;
5. RCW 46.55.113(2)(f), Impound of vehicles in violation of disabled parking laws or regulations;
6. RCW 46.55.113(2)(h), Impound of vehicles in specially designated parking zones;
7. Chapter 6.08 CMC, Solid Waste Collection;
8. CMC Title 7, Animals;
9. Chapter 9.12 CMC, Fire Hazard;
10. Chapter 10.12 CMC, Animals;
11. Chapter 10.30 CMC, Nuisances;
12. Chapters 11.20 CMC, Stopping, Standing, or Parking and 11.56 CMC, Violations and Penalties;
13. Chapter 18.04 CMC, Adoption of International Building Codes and Standard Specifications;
14. Chapter 20.63 CMC, Manufactured Homes.
E. A special police officer is also authorized to:
1. Transport and hold in secure custody prisoners of the Centralia municipal court;
2. Serve Centralia municipal court warrants on individuals detained or in custody;
3. Provide law enforcement and court security services within and adjacent to the environs of the Centralia municipal court;
4. Process, catalog, document, transport, and dispose of department evidence and property pursuant to departmental policies, procedures, and judicial authorization.
F. A specially commissioned police officer may also be appointed in accordance with RCW 10.93.090, which is hereby adopted by reference as now in force or hereafter amended, added to or deleted from.
G. Special police officers shall enforce the provisions in subsections (D) and (E) of this section according to the directives of the chief of police or his or her designee within the Centralia police department.
H. All special police officers appointed under this chapter shall be referred to as “limited commissioned law enforcement officers,” and special police officers shall represent themselves to the public as “limited commissioned law enforcement officers.”
I. The authority conferred upon reserve police officers and special police officers in this section shall not vest any such officer with any police civil service or police pension rights. (Ord. 2446 § 1, 2020: Ord. 2313 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2305 § 1, 2013: Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).
2.15.090 Jurisdiction of civil service commission.
Pending the establishment of rules of the civil service commission for the police department, all personnel matters currently under the jurisdiction of the existing civil service commission shall continue to be subject to the jurisdiction of the existing civil service commission of the city and such commission shall continue to exercise all powers granted by law. (Ord. 2270 § 1 (part), 2011).