Chapter 2.26
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.26.010 Establishment—Supervision.
2.26.030 Members—Appointment and commissioning.
2.26.050 Swearing in/oath of office.
2.26.060 Personnel authorized.
2.26.010 Establishment—Supervision.
There is established and created a department of police to be operated under the direction and control of a chief of police, subject to the supervision of the mayor. (Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)
2.26.020 Chief—Appointment.
The chief of police shall be appointed by the mayor on the basis of his/her qualifications and experience for such office, and may be removed by the mayor. (Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)
2.26.030 Members—Appointment and commissioning.
A. All persons hired as law enforcement officers for the Poulsbo police department shall be commissioned as police officers for the city of Poulsbo prior to being assigned to law enforcement duties. All personnel below the rank of chief shall be appointed and commissioned by the mayor in accordance with any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation relating to civil service and may be removed by the mayor or chief subject to any applicable law, ordinance, rule or regulation relating to civil service then in force and effect.
B. A Poulsbo police commission may be issued to any employee of the city of Poulsbo who, by virtue of training and/or experience, has proven competence in the field of law enforcement and whose duties are police related. No police commission, regular, temporary or honorary, shall be issued to any person until such person has been certified for a regular or provisional appointment to fill an authorized personnel vacancy by the civil service commission in accordance with such rules and regulations relating to civil service then in force and effect. However, a special police commission or deputation may be issued upon approval of the mayor and police chief to persons outside the department who have a need to have special enforcement capabilities such as parking, parks, animal control and arson. These special commissions for persons outside the department will specifically state the authority of the holder to enforce specific identified ordinances. These special commissions for persons outside the department shall be valid for a period of one year and shall automatically expire on December 31st of that year.
C. Police commissions from other law enforcement agencies may be issued to Poulsbo police officers from time to time when necessary or desirable. No officer may accept a commission from another agency without prior notice and permission from the chief of police, unless otherwise specified in a mutual law enforcement assistance agreement as permitted by Chapter 10.93 RCW.
D. A special commission may be issued by the police chief to police department employees acting as court security officers. The scope of the commission granted to court security officers shall be different from that granted to other employees with a special commission and shall be consistent with the job description of the court security officer position. Court security officers shall be authorized to carry and use firearms, tasers or other weapons issued by the Poulsbo police department to perform the duties of the position after successful completion of training in the deployment of the weapons and successful completion of the State Correctional Officer Academy. This commission is only effective while the court security officer is on duty for the city. Nothing in this section shall extend more authority beyond that necessary to accomplish the duties of court security officer.
E. For all employees with special commissions other than court security officers, the commission granted shall not grant any power of arrest, nor shall it grant any authority to carry firearms or tasers. No one with a special commission other than a court security officer shall have any authority beyond that necessary to issue notices of infraction and criminal citations for violations of city code provisions that such persons are authorized to enforce. (Ord. 2021-05 § 1, 2021; Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)
2.26.040 Police powers.
The chief of police and all commissioned police personnel shall have the powers granted, with the duties imposed, by the laws of the state relating to the chief of police and law enforcement personnel of optional municipal code cities and, in addition thereto, the chief and all other commissioned police personnel of the police department 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 or the ordinances of the city may now or hereafter require. This authority is derived from this chapter of the municipal code, is conferred by the commission, issued by the chief of police and is enhanced by the Mutual Aid Peace Officers Powers Act of 1985. (Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)
2.26.050 Swearing in/oath of office.
All commissioned personnel shall be sworn to enforce the ordinances of the city of Poulsbo, state and federal law, to protect the public peace and safety within the city of Poulsbo, and to abide by the code of professional conduct and responsibility for peace officers.
Prior to assuming a police commission, persons hired for a position that requires a commission will take an oath of office to enforce the law, uphold the Constitution of the United States and the state of Washington, and shall make such oath before the mayor or a designee. (Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)
2.26.060 Personnel authorized.
A. The police department shall consist of such regular commissioned personnel in such numbers as shall be determined by the city council by inclusion in an adoption of the budget* of the city.
B. The department may be augmented by such clerical personnel as the city council may from time to time provide. Such clerical personnel shall not be commissioned police officers and shall be subject to civil service regulations unless otherwise specified in a collective bargaining agreement. (Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)
* Code reviser’s note: Ord. 2016-09 (codified at Chapter 3.02) changed the city’s budget from annual to biennial. The word “annual” has been removed from this section to reflect that change.
2.26.070 Disciplinary powers.
The chief of police shall have the power to exercise, for cause, the following disciplinary measures:
A. Oral or written reprimand;
B. Suspension from duty, without pay, for periods up to but not exceeding thirty days;
C. Deferment of advancement in grade for periods up to, but not to exceed, three months;
D. Dismissal. (Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)
2.26.080 Commission abuse.
Any abuse or unjustified use of any police commission or mutual aid peace officers’ powers may result in the commission being withdrawn and/or subject the offending officer to departmental disciplinary procedures. (Ord. 96-02 § 1 (part), 1996)