In an article written by Lisa Backus of the New Britain Herald on January 14, 2010 whereby he states " The Police commission is an advisory board to the police chief." And he went by saying " It serves largely as a ceremonial function and does not administrate the day to day functions of the police department, according to the City Charter.
The City Charter does not supersede the State Statute Sec 7-276 Powers of the Commissioners:
Sec. 7-276. Powers of commissioners. Such boards shall have all of the powers given by the general statutes to boards of police commissioners, shall have general management and supervision of the police department of such town and of the property and equipment used in connection therewith, shall make all needful regulations for the government thereof not contrary to law and may prescribe suitable penalties for the violation of any such regulation, including suspension or removal from office of any officer or member of such police department. Such board shall have the sole power of appointment, promotion and removal of the officers and members of such police department, under such regulations as it adopts for the purpose, and such appointees shall hold office during good behavior and until removed for cause upon written charges and after hearing. The members of such police department shall have all such authority with respect to the service of criminal process and the enforcement of the criminal laws as is vested by the general statutes in police officers and constables.
(1949 Rev., S. 659.)
I hope Ms. Backus when you read this state statute you will admit to your error made with your comments .
Once again the council Democrats apparently think that they can do whatever they want and are above the law.
ReplyDeleteLike most Democrats, they seem to think that state laws only apply to everyone else.
After reading this statute, it appears they had no business even discussing who the police chief could and could not hire, never mind passing a resolution on such a matter.
I wonder if their resolution is even legal, considering the state law restricts such decisions to the Board of Police Commissioners, and clearly not the council?
After watching Trueworthy and Sherwood bloviate endlessly during the televised council meeting about whether or not the police chief can hire a certified officer from another town, and after reading the pertinent state statute, I am left with one question:
ReplyDeleteWhere do they even get the authority to discuss such a matter?
I am sure in their own minds, their imagined power is endless, but the state statutes seem to contradict their wild imaginations.
Sounds like once again Sherwood stuck his nose in someplace where it doesn't belong and it took Frank Smith to point out that he has zero authority in that area! LOL
ReplyDeleteAnonymous said...
ReplyDeleteWhat in the world is Backus talking about when she describes a "ceremonial commission?"
Even the city ordinance calls for them to make all rules and regulations concerning the operation of the police department, so where is it ceremonial, Ms. Backus?
(b) The Police Commission69 and The Fire Commission70. Said Police
and Fire Commissions shall advise and consult with the Police Chief and Fire Chief pertaining to the duties and conduct of the departments charged with responsibility for the police and fire functions, respectively, of the City. The
Commissions shall advise and consult with the respective Chief pertaining to the
Chief’s duties and to the conduct of the department and together with the Chief shall make all rules and regulations relating to the administration of the department which it may deem necessary or advisable, which rules shall be printed and made
available to the public. In general, the Commissions shall be responsible for policymaking
and evaluation with the advice of the Chief.