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 Bristol
 Code of Ordinances
 CHARTER

  § 46B. Chief of police.  

Latest version.

  • (1)

    The chief of police shall be the head of the police department and shall be appointed by and subject to the authority of the board of police commissioners after a recruitment process supervised by the director of personnel. The appointee shall be chosen from the list of the five (5) highest ratings based on criteria as determined by the director of personnel in consultation with the board of police commissioners.

    (2)

    The appointment of the board of police commissioners shall be subject to the approval of and confirmation of the mayor and city council. If the mayor and city council do not act on the nomination within sixty days, said appointment shall be deemed to be approved and confirmed. If the mayor and the city council reject said appointment or the candidate refuses the position, the board of police commissioners shall, within thirty days of said rejection or refusal, select from any remaining candidates and continue this process until five (5) candidates have been used. If no candidate is approved by the mayor and city council, a new recruitment process must ensue. Any rejected candidates shall not be eligible to participate in such process.

    (3)

    The appointee shall reside within a town, any part of which falls within a twenty (20) mile radius of police department headquarters of the City of Bristol within six months of appointment and continue such residency for the term of office. The candidate does not have to be a resident of the City of Bristol or a member of the Bristol Police Department to become eligible for this appointment. The candidate shall have an adequate knowledge of the organization and administration of a police department, and shall also have had experience of at least ten years in the management and direction of police personnel in a supervisory capacity. The candidate shall have an appropriate four-year college or university degree. The candidate shall be offered a personal employment agreement with a duration of four (4) years, and on such other terms subject to the approval and confirmation of the mayor and city council. The award of successive personal employment agreements for the chief of police are at the discretion of the mayor and city council and subject to the approval and confirmation of the mayor and city council. The chief of police shall be responsible for the efficiency, discipline and the good conduct of the department, and for the care and custody of all property used by the department. The chief of police shall appoint a dog warden in accordance with state statutes. The chief of police shall be responsible for the assignment of all members of the department, including a dog warden, to their respective posts, shifts, details and duties. The chief shall make rules and regulations for the government of the police department, subject to the approval of the board of police commissioners. Disobedience by any member of the police department of the lawful orders, rules and regulations of the chief of police or of the said police commissioners shall be grounds for dismissal or other appropriate disciplinary action by said commissioners. The person in office as chief of police on the effective date of this amendment shall enter into a personal employment agreement with a duration of four (4) years, and on such other terms subject to the approval and confirmation of the mayor and city council.

    (4)

    Before any candidate not a member of the Bristol Police Department is appointed in accordance with this charter, the candidate shall be examined by a physician in general practice in the City of Bristol designated by the director of personnel and if such examining physician finds no physical or mental impairment, illness or condition that would prevent the candidate from effectively discharging the duties of the position to which the candidate is about to be appointed, the examining physician shall so certify to the director of personnel. If the examining physician does not so certify after the examination, the candidate shall not be appointed.

    (5)

    The police commission shall have a complete background investigation conducted prior to presentation of the recommended candidate to the mayor and city council.

(Amend. eff. 11-5-75; Amend. eff. 11-9-77; Amend. eff. 11-7-89; Amend. eff. 12-4-03; Amend. eff. 12-8-05; Amend. eff. 12-8-11; Amend. eff. 12-8-16)