Section 4-1-1. Department. There is hereby created the Department of Community Safety of the City of Northglenn, Colorado, which department may also be known as the Police Department.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973]

Section 4-1-2. Definitions. As used in the Municipal Code of the City of Northglenn, unless the context of any of the provisions of the Municipal Code indicates otherwise:

"Department of Community Safety" or "Police Department" means the department established by this ordinance.

"Director of Community Safety," "Chief of Police" or "City Marshal" means the director of the Department established by this ordinance.

"Police Officer" means an officer employed by the City of Northglenn in the Department of Community Safety and invested by the Director of Community Safety with the powers of a police officer provided by this ordinance.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973]

Section 4-1-3. Functions. The duties of the Department of Community Safety and of each police officer in the Department shall be to enforce all laws in the City of Northglenn, including ordinances of the City of Northglenn, statutes of the State of Colorado, statutes of the United States of America, the Constitution of the State of Colorado, and the United States Constitution; to keep the peace; to protect persons and property; to prevent crime; to apprehend persons reasonably believed to have committed crimes; and to promote justice.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973]

Section 4-1-4. Powers. The Department of Community Safety, the Director thereof, and each police officer in the Department shall have all the powers of peace officers, including but not limited to the following:

To cooperate with other police departments and law enforcement agencies.

To aid, either within or outside the boundaries of the City of Northglenn, other police departments and law enforcement agencies.

To execute arrest warrants.

To execute search warrants.

To execute, serve and return any process.

To arrest without warrant for any criminal offense or ordinance violation committed in the presence of the arresting officer.

To arrest without warrant for any criminal offense when a criminal offense or ordinance violation has in fact been committed and the arresting officer has reasonable ground for believing that the person to be arrested has committed it.

To make any and all investigations and reports required or authorized by ordinances or by state statute.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973]

Section 4-1-5. Other Duties and Powers. The Department of Community Safety and each police officer in the Department shall have such other duties, powers and rights as may be provided by ordinance or statute.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973]

Section 4-1-6. Director.

The Director, whenever a City ordinance provides for application to the Department of Community Safety for any license or permit, shall have the authority to receive such application, to make and administer regulations relating to the issuance, suspension and revocation of such licenses, to grant or deny any such license, and to hold hearings on any such license or the granting, denial, suspension or revocation thereof.

The Director may authorize and regulate the use of police dogs, weapons, radio equipment, uniforms, and other clothing, police vehicles, and other equipment, property and supplies by officers and employees in the Department of Community Safety.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973; 880, 1987]

Section 4-1-7. Regulations. The Director of the Department of Community Safety shall promulgate and administer reasonable regulations, not inconsistent with the ordinances of the City of Northglenn and the statutes of the State of Colorado, for the administration of the Department.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973]

Section 4-1-8. Organization. The Director of the Department of Community Safety may create or abolish, from time to time, such bureaus and divisions within the Department of Community Safety as the Director shall deem necessary and proper to the proper organization of the Department.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973; 1824, 2022]

Section 4-1-9. Discipline. For just cause, the Director of the Department of Community Safety may discipline police officers and other employees in the Department. The grounds of disciplinary action and proceedings thereon shall be as provided by the Career Service Rules of the City of Northglenn.

[Source: Ord. 217, 1973]

Section 4-1-10. Defense of Employees.

"Employee" For purposes of this article, employee shall include any elected City official, police officer or any other person working as a salaried or hourly employee of the City of Northglenn.

Where a claim for damages is made against a City employee arising out of an injury sustained from an act or omission of any employee which occurs during the course of the employees work for the City and where such claim includes as a part thereof, a claim that such act or omission of the employee was willful or wanton in its nature, thereby giving rise to a claim for punitive or exemplary damages, the office of the City Attorney shall assist in the defense of the employee in any civil court action that may result as to the issue of whether or not willful or wanton misconduct was involved in such claim, except that where the employee is discharged or recalled for such conduct, the City shall bear no responsibility for the defense of the employee.

[Source: Ord. 434, 1976; 1080, 1993]

Section 4-1-11. Reserved.

Section 4-1-12. Police Dogs and Horses.

The City Council finds that the use of dogs and horses by the police department for the City of Northglenn is a necessary and desirable practice in the interest of public safety and order.

The terms "police dog" and "police horse" shall mean and include any dog or horse used at the direction of, or under the supervision or control of, any law enforcement agency, peace officer, or any officer within the Police Department for the City of Northglenn.

It shall be unlawful to obstruct any dog or horse which is under the immediate direction or control of any police officer of the City of Northglenn or any law enforcement agency or other peace officer while such agency or officer is engaged in the performance of the agency's or officer's duty.

A person obstructs a "police dog" or "police horse" by using or threatening violence, force, or physical interference or obstacle to intentionally impair or hinder the supervisory or controlling officer from using such "police dog" or "police horse" in the performance of his duty.

Violations-penalty. Any violation of the provisions of Section 4-1-12(c) shall be punishable as provided in Section 1-1-10(a)(2) of this Code.

[Source: Ord. 1130, 1995; 1824, 2022]