RULE 1 - ADMINISTRATION - CHIEF OF POLICE

1/010.00 Subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, the general administration and control of the Police Department is vested in the Chief of Police, who shall be responsible and accountable for the government, efficiency, and general good conduct of said Department.

1/010.05 The Chief of Police, in the exercise of his/her duties, subject to the prior approval of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, shall have the power to propose and enforce rules and regulations for the government of members of the Department.

                In case of emergency, the emergency to be determined by the Chief of Police, the Chief shall have the right to establish or modify a rule or rules unilaterally, and such rule and rules shall become effective immediately. The Chief shall immediately inform the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, in writing, of the rule change and reason therefor, and said rule shall remain effective until the next meeting of the Board.

                Any rule proposed by the Chief of Police shall be subject to review and approval by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. The Board may prescribe rules. The Chief of Police may not suspend any rule prescribed by the Board.  The Chief of Police may not issue any Department Order which shall change the District Boundaries, known as Territorial Divisions, or the organizational structure of the Police Department, known as the Departmental Divisions of Service, without first presenting such changes to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners for review. The rules of the Police Department shall be made available to the public by the Police Department at a cost not to exceed the actual copying cost. Copies of the Milwaukee Police Department rules and regulations shall be made available for inspection by the general public by placing a copy of such rules at all district stations, City Library and its branches, and in the Legislative Reference Bureau of the City of Milwaukee.

1/010.10 It shall be the duty of the Chief of Police to cause the public peace to be preserved and to enforce all the laws and ordinances of the City of which the Police Department must take cognizance; and whenever any violation shall come to the knowledge of the Chief, the Chief shall cause the required complaint to be made and obtain the evidence necessary for the successful prosecution of the offender or offenders.

1/010.15 The Chief of Police shall make all appointments and promotions in the Department, subject to the confirmation of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

1/010.20 The Chief of Police may at his discretion punish by dismissal, demotion, or suspension any member of the Department guilty of violating any of its rules and regulations. However, when such suspension shall exceed a period of five (5) days, or in case of demotion or dismissal, notification shall be made to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and such suspended, demoted, or dismissed member may appeal from such order to said Board within ten (10) days of the date of such suspension, demotion, or dismissal.

1/010.25 The Chief of Police shall cause to be kept such books and records as may be specifically provided by Ordinance and shall report to the Board and Common Council at the end of each month the number of arrests made during such month, together with the causes of arrest; and the Chief shall give such other information to the Board and Common Council as may be required from time to time. The Chief of Police shall notify the Fire and Police Commission within five (5) working days the name of any sworn employee who resigns from the Police Service. The Chief of Police shall cause to have distributed to each such sworn employee a questionnaire provided to the Police Department by the Fire and Police Commission. Upon completion the questionnaire shall be returnable directly to the office of the Fire and Police Commission by the employee on or before completion of the last duty day. The Chief of Police shall also cause to be made and kept such other books and records of the proceedings of the Department which the Chief may consider necessary.

1/010.30 The Chief of Police shall maintain and have custody of all property of the Department, including but not limited to, all books and records which shall be available and subject to inspection by the Board.

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