NCJ Number
80562
Date Published
1979
Length
60 pages
Annotation
This manual acquaints Montana police commissioners with their duties and recommends procedures for the conduct of Police Commission business.
Abstract
One of the most important functions of the Montana Police Commission is to act as a quasi-judicial body independent of the police department to hear citizen complaints against police. Although the Commission is not required to follow all of the statutory and constitutional rules governing courts, it has many of the powers of judges and courts. This manual explains most of these powers. Constitutional provisions, statutory provisions, and various State supreme court interpretations of these laws as they affect the Police Commission are presented and are the basis for the guidelines and procedures recommended. Besides the Police Commission's purpose and organization, the duty of the Commission to examine applicants for police department vacancies is discussed. Other Commission duties considered are (1) the determination of the eligibility of an officer for disability retirement; (2) hearing appeals from officers dissatisfied with disciplinary action taken by the chief of police or the mayor; and (3) the hearing, trying, and decisionmaking on all charges brought against police officers. Forms used by the Police Commission are also provided.