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IC 36-8-3-2
Powers and duties of safety boards
Sec. 2. (a) The safety board of a city shall administer the police
and fire departments of the city, except as provided by any statute or
ordinance referred to in section 5 of this chapter.
(b) The safety board has exclusive control over all matters and
property relating to the following:
(1) Police department.
(2) Fire department, fire alarms, and fire escapes.
(3) Animal shelters.
(4) Inspection of buildings.
(c) The safety board may purchase the equipment and supplies
and make the repairs needed in the department of public safety.
(d) The safety board may:
(1) adopt rules for the government and discipline of the police
and fire departments; and
(2) adopt general and special orders to the police and fire
departments through the chiefs of the departments.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52. Amended by Acts 1982,
P.L.33, SEC.35.
IC 36-8-3-3
Organization of safety boards; appointment of police officers,
firefighters, and other officials
Sec. 3. (a) A majority of the members of the safety board
constitutes a quorum. The board shall adopt rules concerning the
time of holding regular and special meetings and of giving notice of
them. The board shall elect one (1) of its members chairman, who
holds the position as long as prescribed by the rules of the board. The
board shall record all of its proceedings.
(b) The members of the safety board may act only as a board. No
member may bind the board or the city except by resolution entered
in the records of the board authorizing the member to act in its behalf
as its authorized agent.
(c) The safety board shall appoint:
(1) the members and other employees of the police department
other than those in an upper level policymaking position;
(2) the members and other employees of the fire department
other than those in an upper level policymaking position;
(3) a market master; and
IC 36-8-3-4
Police officers and firefighters; discipline, demotion, and dismissal;
hearings; appeals; administrative leave
Sec. 4. (a) This section also applies to all towns and townships
that have full-time, paid police or fire departments. For purposes of
this section, the appropriate appointing authority of a town or
township is considered the safety board of a town or township. In a
town with a board of metropolitan police commissioners, that board
is considered the safety board of the town for police department
purposes.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (m), a member of the police
or fire department holds office or grade until the member is
dismissed or demoted by the safety board. Except as provided in
subsection (n), a member may be disciplined by demotion, dismissal,
reprimand, forfeiture, or suspension upon either:
(1) conviction in any court of any crime; or
(2) a finding and decision of the safety board that the member
has been or is guilty of any one (1) or more of the following:
(A) Neglect of duty.
(B) A violation of rules.
(C) Neglect or disobedience of orders.
(D) Incapacity.
located. If a witness refuses to testify or to produce books or papers
in the witness's possession or under the witness's control,
IC 36-4-6-21 controls to the extent applicable. The proper court may
compel compliance with the order by attachment, commitment, or
other punishment.
(e) The reasons for the suspension, demotion, or dismissal of a
member of the police or fire department shall be entered as specific
findings of fact upon the records of the safety board. A member who
is suspended for a period exceeding five (5) days, demoted, or
dismissed may appeal the decision to the circuit or superior court of
the county in which the unit is located. However, a member may not
appeal any other decision.
(f) An appeal under subsection (e) must be taken by filing in
court, within thirty (30) days after the date the decision is rendered,
a verified complaint stating in concise manner the general nature of
the charges against the member, the decision of the safety board, and
a demand for the relief asserted by the member. A bond must also be
filed that guarantees the appeal will be prosecuted to a final
determination and that the plaintiff will pay all costs adjudged
against the plaintiff. The bond must be approved as bonds for costs
are approved in other cases. The unit must be named as the sole
defendant, and the plaintiff shall have a summons issued as in other
cases against the unit. Neither the safety board nor the members of
it may be made parties defendant to the complaint, but all are bound
by service upon the unit and the judgment rendered by the court.
(g) In an appeal under subsection (e), no pleading is required by
the unit to the complaint, but the allegations are considered denied.
The unit may file a motion to dismiss the appeal for failure to perfect
it within the time and in the manner required by this section. If more
than one (1) person was included in the same charges and in the same
decision of dismissal by the safety board, then one (1) or more of the
persons may join as plaintiffs in the same complaint, but only the
persons that appeal from the decision are affected by it. The decision
of the safety board is final and conclusive upon all persons not
appealing. The decision appealed from is not stayed or affected
pending the final determination of the appeal, but remains in effect
unless modified or reversed by the final judgment of the court.
(h) A decision of the safety board is considered prima facie
correct, and the burden of proof is on the party appealing. All appeals
shall be tried by the court. The appeal shall be heard de novo only
upon any new issues related to the charges upon which the decision
of the safety board was made. The charges are considered to be
denied by the accused person. Within ten (10) days after the service
of summons the safety board shall file in court a complete transcript
of all papers, entries, and other parts of the record relating to the
particular case. Inspection of these documents by the person affected,
or by the person's agent, must be permitted by the safety board before
the appeal is filed, if requested. Each party may produce evidence
relevant to the issues that it desires, and the court shall review the
record and decision of the safety board upon appeal.
IC 36-8-3-4.1
Certain towns and townships; reprimand or temporary suspension
of members without prior hearing; review by safety board
Sec. 4.1. (a) This section also applies to all towns and townships
that have full-time, paid police or fire departments. For purposes of
this section, the appropriate appointing authority of a town or
township is considered the safety board of a town or township. In a
town with a board of metropolitan police commissioners, that board
is considered the safety board of the town.
(b) In addition to the disciplinary powers of the safety board, the
chief of the department may, without a hearing, reprimand or
suspend without pay a member, including a police radio or signal
alarm operator or a fire alarm operator, for a maximum of five (5)
working days. For the purposes of this section, eight (8) hours of
paid time constitutes one (1) working day. If a chief reprimands a
member in writing or suspends a member, the chief shall, within
forty-eight (48) hours, notify the board in writing of the action and
the reasons for the action. A member who is reprimanded in writing
or suspended under this section may, within forty-eight (48) hours
after receiving notice of the reprimand or suspension, request in
writing that the board review the reprimand or suspension and either
uphold or reverse the chief's decision. At its discretion, the board
may hold a hearing during this review. If the board holds a hearing,
written notice must be given either by service upon the member in
person or by a copy left at the member's last and usual place of
residence at least fourteen (14) days before the date set for the
hearing. The notice must contain the information listed under section
4(c) of this chapter. If the decision is reversed, the member who was
suspended is entitled to any wages withheld as a result of the
suspension.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.183, SEC.22. Amended by P.L.265-1993,
SEC.2.
IC 36-8-3-4.3
Suspension or termination of EMS personnel; right to hearing and
appeal
Sec. 4.3. (a) This section also applies to a town or township that
has at least one (1) certified employee of a full-time, paid fire or
police department, without regard to whether:
(1) the employee is an appointed police officer or firefighter; or
(2) under section 5 of this chapter, the police or fire department
is exempt from sections 3, 4, and 4.1 of this chapter.
(b) As used in this section, "certified employee" means an
individual who, as a condition of employment, holds a valid
certification issued under IC 16-31-3 by the Indiana emergency
medical services commission established by IC 16-31-2-1.
(c) As used in this section, "medical director" means a physician
with an unlimited license to practice medicine in Indiana and who
performs the duties and responsibilities described in 836 IAC 2-2-1.
(d) If a medical director takes any of the following actions against
a certified employee, the medical director shall provide to the
certified employee and to the chief of the certified employee's
department a written explanation of the reasons for the action taken
by the medical director:
(1) The medical director refuses or fails to supervise or
otherwise provide medical control and direction to the certified
employee.
(2) The medical director refuses or fails to attest to the
competency of the certified employee to perform emergency
medical services.
(3) The medical director suspends the certified employee from
performing emergency medical services.
(e) Before a police or fire department takes any employment
related action against a certified employee as the result of a medical
director's action described in subsection (d), the certified employee
is entitled to a hearing and appeal concerning the medical director's
action as provided in section 4 of this chapter.
(f) If the medical director's action that is the subject of an appeal
under subsection (e) is based on a health care decision made by the
certified employee in performing emergency medical services, the
safety board conducting the hearing shall consult with an
independent medical expert to determine whether the certified
employee followed the applicable emergency medical services
protocol in making the health care decision. The independent
medical expert:
(1) must be a physician trained in emergency medical services;
and
(2) may not be affiliated with the same hospital as the medical
director.
As added by P.L.13-2010, SEC.1.
IC 36-8-3-5
Merit boards and commissions; exemption from statutory
procedure
Sec. 5. Except as provided in section 4.3 of this chapter, sections
3, 4, and 4.1 of this chapter do not apply to a police or fire
department having a board or commission established by statute or
ordinance to establish or administer policies based on merit for the
appointment, promotion, demotion, and dismissal of members of the
department, unless the establishing law specifically incorporates one
(1) or more of those sections.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52. Amended by Acts 1981,
P.L.183, SEC.23; Acts 1982, P.L.33, SEC.37; P.L.13-2010, SEC.2.
IC 36-8-3-6
Police officers; powers and duties
Sec. 6. (a) This section applies to:
(1) all municipalities; and
(2) a county having a consolidated city.
(b) A warrant of search or arrest, issued by any judge, may be
executed in the municipality by:
(1) any municipal police officer; or
(2) a member of the consolidated law enforcement department
established under IC 36-3-1-5.1;
subject to the laws governing arrest and bail.
IC 36-8-3-7
Police officers and firefighters; special duty; school security police
Sec. 7. (a) The safety board may detail regular police officers or
firefighters, or appoint and swear an additional number of special
police officers or firefighters, to do special duty within the city.
Regular police officers and firefighters serving special duty shall be
paid the same rate per diem for this service as is paid to members of
the department in their regular employment. The board may
determine the compensation of persons serving special duty in all
other cases.
(b) Unless the safety board designates otherwise, the special
police officers are subject to the police chief and the special
firefighters are subject to the fire chief. If they are employees of
departments other than the police or fire department, they shall obey
the rules of their respective departments and conform to its discipline
and orders to the extent these do not conflict with the orders of the
safety board. A person other than a regular police officer or
firefighter may not wear a uniform the design of which is not easily
distinguishable from or which conforms with respect to the color or
design of the state police or a sheriff's patrol of the county in which
the city is located or the police or fire department of the city. Special
police officers and firefighters, during the term of their appointment,
have those powers, privileges, and duties assigned to them by the
safety board. They have these powers, privileges, and duties only
while fulfilling the specific responsibilities for which the
appointment is made. Persons other than regular police officers and
firefighters appointed under this section may be removed by the
safety board at any time without notice and without assigning any
cause.
(c) The powers and duties of officers appointed to serve as
security police for school corporations include:
(1) the protection of school personnel while on school business,
including school children, employees, and members of the
governing body of the school corporation; and
(2) the protection of all school corporation property.
(d) Auxiliary firefighters directly connected with and created to
augment the regular fire departments may wear a uniform the design
of which is established by the safety board. Persons so appointed
may be removed at any time by the board, without notice and without
assigning any cause.
(e) In time of emergency the safety board may also detail
members from the police or fire department for the use of any other
department of the city government.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52. Amended by P.L.360-1983,
SEC.1.
IC 36-8-3-8
Police department; civilian personnel; merit system
Sec. 8. (a) The safety board may employ civilian technical and
clerical personnel to work with the police department as civilian
radio operators, radio technicians, chemical technicians, laboratory
technicians, and other civilian technical personnel and clerical
personnel that are required. The safety board shall fix the salary to
be paid to the civilian technical and clerical personnel subject to the
budgetary procedures applicable to the department of public safety.
The civilian technical and clerical personnel are not eligible to be
members of any police pension fund.
(b) The safety board may establish a merit system for civilian
personnel appointed under subsection (a). However, in establishing
a system the safety board shall consult with the state personnel board
concerning the form and content of the merit system.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52.
IC 36-8-3-9
Oaths; depositions
Sec. 9. The safety board, police chief, and fire chief may
administer oaths to a person summoned in a proceeding authorized
by this chapter and may take depositions under the rules or orders of
the board.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52.
IC 36-8-3-11
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.148-1995, SEC.8.)
IC 36-8-3-12
Board members, police officers, and firefighters; elective and
appointive office
Sec. 12. Subject to IC 3-5-9, members of the safety board and
members of any township, town, or city (including a consolidated
city) police department, fire department, or volunteer fire department
(as defined by IC 36-8-12-2) may:
(1) be candidates for elective office and serve in that office if
elected;
(2) be appointed to any office and serve in that office if
appointed; and
(3) as long as they are not in uniform and not on duty, solicit
votes and campaign funds and challenge voters for the office for
which they are candidates.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52. Amended by P.L.376-1985,
SEC.1; P.L.347-1987, SEC.1; P.L.1-1999, SEC.83; P.L.135-2012,
SEC.10.
IC 36-8-3-13
Adoption of rules regulating performance bonds
Sec. 13. The safety board may, subject to city ordinances, adopt
rules regulating the giving of bond by an appointee or class of
appointees in the department for faithful performance of official
duty.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52.
IC 36-8-3-14
Police and firefighters' insurance funds; creation, management,
and distribution
Sec. 14. (a) This section does not apply to second class cities.
(b) The safety board may draft an ordinance and submit it to the
legislative body for the creation, management, and distribution of a
police insurance fund or a firefighters' insurance fund, including a
provision for retaining a certain percentage of each appointee's salary
for the creation of the fund. The ordinance must prescribe the
conditions of investment and who is entitled to the benefits.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52.
IC 36-8-3-15
Police officers and firefighters; exemption from militia service
Sec. 15. (a) This section also applies to all members of a fire
department organized by a town.
(b) Members of the police and fire departments are exempt from
service in the militia, except in case of war, invasion, or insurrection.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52. Amended by P.L.4-1998,
SEC.14.
IC 36-8-3-16
Destruction of burning buildings; recovery of damages
Sec. 16. If a building in the city is on fire, or if a building adjacent
to it is liable to take or convey fire to other buildings and cause great
destruction of property, the fire chief, or his assistant acting as chief
with the concurrence of the executive or of the safety board, may
take down, blow up, or destroy the building or buildings. An action
may not be maintained against a person for this action, but the owner
of such a building may, in a civil action, recover damages from the
city for its destruction.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52.
IC 36-8-3-17
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.104-1983, SEC.7.)
IC 36-8-3-19
Police matrons; appointment; powers and duties;
accommodations; compensation; qualifications
Sec. 19. (a) The safety board may appoint a police matron,
including assistants that are necessary. The matron shall receive,
search, and properly care for, at the jail or station house, all female
prisoners who are arrested and detained in custody in the city. The
matron is not a member of the police department of the city, but has
all the authority delegated to a police officer. The matron is subject
to rules that are prescribed for her by the safety board or by
ordinance and may be removed by the board for good cause shown.
(b) The matron shall be given proper accommodations for herself
and for all prisoners under her control. She is the jailer in charge of
the woman's department of the station house or jail and may summon
a police officer or other person to her aid when aid is required. The
matron and her assistant or assistants shall be paid the compensation
or salaries that are set for other employees of the police department.
The matron, or her assistant, shall attend all courts when female
prisoners are to be tried and shall take charge of all female prisoners
while they are awaiting trial or transfer to or from a place of
detention.
(c) The matron must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, fully
qualified, and of good moral character.
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.52. Amended by Acts 1981,
P.L.315, SEC.3.
IC 36-8-3-20
Police reserve officers
Sec. 20. (a) This section applies to counties and towns as well as
cities.
(b) A unit may provide by ordinance for any number of police
reserve officers.
(c) Police reserve officers shall be appointed by the same
authority that appoints regular members of the department.
IC 36-8-3-21
Police or fire department members; membership in 1977 fund
required
Sec. 21. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), this section
applies to all units.
(b) This subsection does not apply to the appointment of a fire
chief under a waiver under IC 36-8-4-6(c) or the appointment of a
police chief under a waiver under IC 36-8-4-6.5(c). An individual
may not be employed by a unit after May 31, 1985, as a member of
the unit's fire department or as a member of the unit's police
department unless the individual meets the conditions for
membership in the 1977 fund.
(c) Notwithstanding IC 36-8-1-9, the executive of the unit may
request that the 1977 fund accept the following individuals in the
1977 fund under IC 36-8-8-7(h):
(1) A fire chief appointed under a waiver under IC 36-8-4-6(c).
(2) A police chief appointed under a waiver under
IC 36-8-4-6.5(c).
As added by P.L.342-1985, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.148-1992,
SEC.2; P.L.213-1995, SEC.3.