The Chief of Police, his powers and duties.
Section 23
SEC. 23. The Chief of Police, his powers and duties.—The chief of police shall have charge of the police and fire force of the City. He shall have the following powers and duties: He may issue supplementary regulations not incompatible with law, ordinance or general regulations in accordance with law, for the governance of the city police, detective force and the fire force; He shall quell riots, disorders, disturbances of the peace, and shall arrest and prosecute violators of any law or ordinance; shall exercise police supervision over all land and water within the police jurisdiction of the City; shall be charged with the protection of the rights of persons and property whenever found within the jurisdiction of the City, and shall arrest when necessary to prevent the escape of the offenders violators of any law ordinance, and all who obstruct or interfere with him in the discharge of his duty; shall have charge of the city prison; and shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all prisoners until they shall be released from custody in accordance with law, or delivered to the warden of the proper prison or penitentiary; He may take good, sufficient bail for the appearance before the judge of the city court of any person arrested for violation of any city ordinance; He shall have authority within the police limits of the City, to serve and execute criminal processes of any court; He shall be the deputy sheriff of the City, and as such he shall, personally or by representative, attend the sessions of the city court, and shall execute promptly and faithfully, all writs and processes of said court; He shall have charge of the fire-engine houses, fire engines, hose trucks, hooks and ladders, and all other fire apparatus; He shall have full police powers in the vicinity of fires; He shall have authority to remove or demolish any building or other property whenever it shall become necessary to prevent the spreading of fire or to protect adjacent property; He shall investigate and report to the City Mayor upon the origin and cause of all fires occurring within the City; He shall inspect all buildings erected or under construction or repair within the City and determine whether they provide sufficient protection against fire and comply with, the ordinances relating thereto; He shall have charge of the city fire-alarm service; He shall supervise and regulate the stringing, grounding, and installation of wires for all electrical connections with a view to avoiding conflagrations, interference with public traffic or safety, or the necessary operation of the police and fire force; He shall supervise the manufacture, storage, and use of petroleum, gas, acetylene, gunpowder, and other highly combustible matter and explosive; and He shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.