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CHAPTER 104
MUNICIPAL POLICE AND FIRE PROTECTION
Table of Contents
Sec. 7-274. Establishment of town police commissions.
Sec. 7-275. Meetings of commissioners. Vacancies.
Sec. 7-276. Powers of commissioners.
Sec. 7-277. Town to bear expense.
Sec. 7-277a. Police assistance agreements.
Sec. 7-278. Hearing prior to dismissal of municipal police head. Just cause requirement. Appeal.
Sec. 7-279. Subpoena to appear before municipal police commissioners.
Sec. 7-280. Witness fees.
Sec. 7-281. Execution of criminal process in towns, cities and boroughs. Execution of arrest warrants.
Sec. 7-281a. Free use of COLLECT system.
Sec. 7-282. Municipal accident and police records.
Sec. 7-282a. Reporting of bomb incidents.
Sec. 7-282b. Automatic telephone alarms.
Sec. 7-282c. Filing and dissemination of missing child reports.
Sec. 7-282d. Imposition of traffic ticket quotas prohibited.
Sec. 7-283. Employment of private detectives.
Sec. 7-284. Police protection at places of amusement.
Sec. 7-285. Sale of unclaimed goods by police departments.
Sec. 7-286. Police matrons in certain cities.
Sec. 7-287. Female prisoners under care of police matron.
Sec. 7-288. Duty of police matron.
Sec. 7-289. Qualifications of matron; salary; removal.
Sec. 7-290. Separate station for female prisoners.
Sec. 7-291. Police surgeons.
Sec. 7-292. Adoption of forty-hour week for policemen.
Sec. 7-293. Work week.
Sec. 7-294. Earnings not affected.
Sec. 7-294a. Police Officer Standards and Training Council. Definitions.
Sec. 7-294b. Members of council. Holding of other office.
Sec. 7-294c. Annual report.
Sec. 7-294d. Powers of council. Certification of police officers, police training schools and law enforcement instructors. Refusal to renew, cancellation or revocation of certification. Automatic certification. Exemptions.
Sec. 7-294e. Recertification of police officers. Regulations.
Sec. 7-294f. State and local police training programs to include course on rape crisis intervention.
Sec. 7-294g. State and local police training programs to provide training re domestic violence, child abuse, and suicide intervention procedures.
Sec. 7-294h. State and local police training programs to provide training on the handling of juvenile matters.
Sec. 7-294i.
Sec. 7-294j.
Sec. 7-294k.
Sec. 7-294l. State and local police training programs to provide training on gang-related violence.
Sec. 7-294m. (Formerly Sec. 7-294j). Instruction re new legal developments for municipal chief law enforcement officers.
Sec. 7-294n. State and local police training programs to provide training on crimes motivated by bigotry or bias.
Secs. 7-294o to 7-294w.
Sec. 7-294x. Council to provide training to public school security personnel.
Sec. 7-294y. (Formerly Sec. 7-294i). State and local police policy on the handling and processing of juvenile matters.
Sec. 7-294z. (Formerly Sec. 7-294k). Use of radar devices by state and municipal police officers.
Sec. 7-295. Acceptance of part.
Sec. 7-296. Reserve fund of police department.
Sec. 7-297. Veteran reserve; retirement; death benefits.
Sec. 7-298. Removal of policemen not restricted.
Sec. 7-299. City ordinances.
Sec. 7-300. Establishment of funds in towns and boroughs.
Sec. 7-301. Establishment of fire department.
Sec. 7-302. Hearing prior to dismissal of fire department head. Appeal.
Sec. 7-303. "Municipality", "work" and "duty" defined.
Sec. 7-304. Participation of municipalities.
Sec. 7-305. Work week.
Sec. 7-306. Earnings.
Sec. 7-307. Age requirement for veterans.
Sec. 7-308. Assumption of liability for damages caused by firemen or volunteer ambulance members.
Sec. 7-309. Liability for damage caused by motor vehicle used for fire fighting.
Sec. 7-310. Operation of fire equipment in and provision of personnel and assistance to other municipality.
Sec. 7-311. Liability for delay in reporting fire or other emergency.
Sec. 7-312. Liability as to use of water holes.
Sec. 7-313. Fire police.
Sec. 7-313a. Fire police.
Sec. 7-313b. Authority of fire department officer to order removal of persons.
Sec. 7-313c. Indemnification for educational expenses.
Sec. 7-313d. Local fire department's authority to inspect state facilities.
Sec. 7-313e. Authority of fire officer during emergency.
Sec. 7-314. Definitions. Exemption from Freedom of Information Act.
Sec. 7-314a. Death, disability and injury benefits. Presumption.
Sec. 7-314b. Collection of workers' compensation benefits by volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer ambulance services.
Sec. 7-314c. Assumption of liability by the state for volunteer firefighters.
Secs. 7-315 to 7-322. Death benefits; payments for injuries, for treatment of injuries and occupational disease and for total disability; insurance to provide payments; notice of claim; investigation of claim; benefits exempt from attachment.
Sec. 7-322a. Benefits for volunteers rendering service to another fire company.
Sec. 7-322b. Volunteers serving in municipality where employed. Fire and ambulance leaves. Enactment by municipality. List of participating members. Benefits.
Sec. 7-323. Application of part.
Sec. 7-323a. Definitions.
Sec. 7-323b. Acceptance of part.
Sec. 7-323c. Benefit fund established.
Sec. 7-323d. Actuarial studies of fund experience.
Sec. 7-323e. Benefits.
Sec. 7-323f. Insurance policies to provide benefits authorized.
Sec. 7-323g. Withdrawal of acceptance.
Sec. 7-323h. Municipal liability for maintaining benefits.
Sec. 7-323i. Administration of fund.
Sec. 7-323j. Definitions.
Sec. 7-323k. Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.
Sec. 7-323l. Duties of Commission on Fire Prevention and Control. Regulations.
Sec. 7-323m. Exceptions, voluntary cooperation.
Sec. 7-323n. Office of State Fire Administration.
Sec. 7-323o. State Fire Administrator, appointment and duties.
Sec. 7-323p. State fire school. Training and education extension account. Auxiliary services account.
Sec. 7-323q. Indemnification of fire service instructors.
PART I
POLICE DEPARTMENTS
Any town may, by ordinance, establish a board of police commissioners to be elected, in accordance with the
provisions of section 9-201 or to be appointed by the council or board of directors of a
town, the common council or other body empowered to make ordinances of a city, the
board of burgesses of a borough or the board of selectmen of a town not having a council
or board of directors, provided in a town having both a board of selectmen and a representative town meeting such ordinance may designate the representative town meeting
as the appointing authority, for the purpose of organizing and maintaining a police
department in such town. Such board shall consist of three, five or seven electors, all
of whom shall be resident taxpayers of such town. Such commissioners shall be sworn
to the faithful performance of their duties and shall serve without compensation, but
their actual expenses and disbursements incurred in the performance of their duties shall
be paid from the town treasury.
(1949 Rev., S. 656; 1953, S. 260d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 19; P.A. 73-138, S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-209.)
History: P.A. 73-138 permitted board to be appointed as well as elected; P.A. 74-209 clarified appointment provisions
by listing specific appointing authorities.
Cited. 144 C. 21, 27. Cited. 171 C. 553, 563.
Upon establishment of board by town meeting, no vacancy exists when members are to be elected at the "next town
election." 19 CS 316. Cited. 31 CS 145. Cited. 38 CS 419—421.
The board of police commissioners shall elect one of its number to be chairman and one member to be clerk and
shall hold regular meetings and keep records of the same. Meetings shall be held upon
the call of the chairman or of a majority of the members of the board. A majority of the
members of the board shall constitute a quorum. In the event of any vacancy upon the
board, the board of selectmen shall have authority by majority vote to fill such vacancy
until the next town election, at which election a member shall be elected for the unexpired
portion of the term.
(1949 Rev., S. 658; 1953, S. 261d.)
See Sec. 9-1 for applicable definitions.
Cited. 144 C. 27.
Cited. 19 CS 316.
Subsec. (6):
Cited. 193 C. 59, 68.
Such boards shall have all of the powers
given by the general statutes to boards of police commissioners, shall have general
management and supervision of the police department of such town and of the property
and equipment used in connection therewith, shall make all needful regulations for the
government thereof not contrary to law and may prescribe suitable penalties for the
violation of any such regulation, including suspension or removal from office of any
officer or member of such police department. Such board shall have the sole power
of appointment, promotion and removal of the officers and members of such police
department, under such regulations as it adopts for the purpose, and such appointees
shall hold office during good behavior and until removed for cause upon written charges
and after hearing. The members of such police department shall have all such authority
with respect to the service of criminal process and the enforcement of the criminal laws
as is vested by the general statutes in police officers and constables.
(1949 Rev., S. 659.)
Cited. 171 C. 553, 561. Cited. 217 C. 73, 90. Cited. 227 C. 363, 371, 375. Cited. 229 C. 703, 707, 713. Statutory policy
committing selection, direction and dismissal of police officers to town is not inconsistent with grievance procedure in
collective bargaining agreement covering discipline of police officers. 255 C. 800.
Cited. 41 CA 649, 658.
Offices of police commissioner and chief of police are incompatible and, upon acceptance of one, other office is vacated.
21 CS 294. A de novo hearing on the merits does not contravene statute since only the power of appointment, promotion
and removal of police officers is exclusively reserved to the commissioners. 31 CS 87. Cited. 31 CS 145.
The expenses, salaries and all costs of maintenance and equipment for such police department shall be paid by such town in the same
manner as other expenses of the town government.
(1949 Rev., S. 660.)
(a) The chief executive officer of any
town, city or borough or his designee may, whenever he determines it to be necessary
in order to protect the safety or well-being of his municipality, request the chief executive
officer of any other town, city or borough to furnish such police assistance as is necessary
to meet such situation and the chief executive officer, or chief of police or board of
police commissioners or other duly constituted authority with the approval of the chief
executive officer of the municipality receiving such request may, notwithstanding any
other provision or requirement of state or local law, assign and make available for duty
in such other municipality, under the direction and command of an officer designated
for the purpose, such part of the police forces under his control as he deems consistent
with the safety and well-being of his municipality. Any policeman so provided, while
acting in response to such request, shall have the same powers, duties, privileges and
immunities as are conferred on the policemen of the municipality requesting assistance.
Unless waived in writing by the chief executive officer of the municipality supplying
assistance pursuant to a request under this section, such municipality shall be reimbursed
for all expenditures incurred in providing such assistance by the municipality making
such request, including payments for death, disability or injury of employees and losses
or damages to supplies or equipment incurred in providing such assistance. Any municipality, upon the approval of the chief executive officer and, where required by charter
or ordinance, the governing body of such municipality, may enter into an agreement
with any other municipality or municipalities, with respect to requesting and supplying
such assistance and reimbursing or receiving reimbursement for the same.
(b) The chief executive officer of any institution which maintains a special police
force, established under the provisions of section 10a-142, and the chief of police of the
Office of State Capitol Police, established under the provisions of section 2-1f, may
enter into an agreement with one or more municipalities to furnish or receive police
assistance under the same conditions and terms specified in subsection (a) for
agreements between municipalities.
(c) The chief executive officer of any town, city or borough which provides police
protection solely by a constabulary force may enter into an agreement with one or more
municipalities to furnish or receive police assistance under the conditions and terms
specified in subsection (a).
(1967, P.A. 198; 1969, P.A. 78; P.A. 83-466, S. 1; P.A. 84-302, S. 1; P.A. 96-219, S. 2.)
History: 1969 act allowed request for assistance to be made when chief executive officer determines it to be necessary
rather than "in any emergency" as previously, permitted police chief, police commissioners etc. power to fill request as
well as chief executive authority, permitted waiver of reimbursement and provided for agreements between municipalities
regarding assistance and reimbursement; P.A. 83-466 added Subsec. (b), which permitted state university special police
forces to enter into mutual aid agreements with municipalities and amended Subsec. (a) to permit a municipality's chief
executive officer's designee to request police assistance of the chief executive officer of another municipality; P.A. 84-
302 added Subsec. (c), permitting the chief executive officer of any town protected solely by a constabulary force to enter
into mutual aid agreements with other municipalities; P.A. 96-219 amended Subsec. (b) by adding reference to the chief
of police of the Office of State Capitol Police, established under Sec. 2-1f.
Cited. 227 C. 363, 371, 375.
Cited. 29 CA 207, 213.
Sec. 7-278. Hearing prior to dismissal of municipal police head. Just cause
requirement. Appeal. No active head of any police department of any town, city or
borough shall be dismissed unless there is a showing of just cause by the authority having
the power of dismissal and such person has been given notice in writing of the specific
grounds for such dismissal and an opportunity to be heard in his own defense, personally
or by counsel, at a public hearing before such authority. Such public hearing, unless
otherwise specified by charter, shall be held not less than five nor more than ten days
after such notice. Any person so dismissed may appeal within thirty days following
such dismissal to the superior court for the judicial district in which such town, city or
borough is located. Service shall be made as in civil process. Said court shall review
the record of such hearing, and, if it appears upon the hearing upon the appeal that
testimony is necessary for an equitable disposition of the appeal, it may take evidence
or appoint a referee or a committee to take such evidence as it directs and report the
same to the court with his or its findings of fact, which report shall constitute a part of
the proceedings upon which the determination of the court shall be made. The court,
upon such appeal, and after a hearing thereon, may affirm the action of such authority,
or may set the same aside if it finds that such authority acted illegally or arbitrarily, or
in the abuse of its discretion, with bad faith, malice, or without just cause.
(1949, 1951, 1955, S. 425d; P.A. 74-183, S. 178, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 288, 681; P.A. 82-472, S. 18, 183; P.A. 83-212.)
History: P.A. 74-183 added reference to judicial district; P.A. 76-436 substituted superior court for court of common
pleas, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 82-472 deleted obsolete reference to county as venue for superior court; P.A. 83-212
required a showing of just cause for municipal police chief dismissals.
Cited. 209 C. 353, 362. Cited. 223 C. 354, 360, 365, 370. Cited. 229 C. 703, 705—708, 710, 711.
Cited. 44 CA 611.
The
chief executive officer of any municipality, the clerk of the board of police commissioners in any municipality or any justice of the peace may sign and issue subpoenas to
compel the attendance of witnesses before the board of police commissioners in such
municipality at any lawful meeting of such board. Any such subpoena may be served
in the same manner as by law provided for witnesses in civil causes, except that no fees
shall be tendered to any witness at the time of such service. Any person upon whom
such process has been legally served shall appear before such board in obedience to
such process and testify as to any matters lawfully pending before such board. If any
person upon whom such a subpoena has been served refuses to attend before such board,
the clerk of such board, by direction of the board, may issue a capias, directed to some
proper officer, to arrest such witness and bring him before the board to testify; and, in
case such person refuses to testify, the board shall have the power to adjudge such person
to be in contempt and may issue a mittimus, signed by its clerk, and commit such person
to a community correctional center for not more than thirty days.
(1949 Rev., S. 661; 1969, P.A. 297; P.A. 77-178, S. 1.)
History: 1969 act replaced jails with community correctional centers; P.A. 77-178 replaced "city" with "municipality"
and "mayor" with "chief executive officer".
This is an exercise of the police power, and is not a judicial proceeding. 65 C. 33. Cited. 180 C. 243, 249. Cited. 222
C. 799, 815.
The same fees as provided by law for witnesses in civil
causes shall be paid out of the treasury of the municipality to any witnesses, except
policemen, who attend and testify under the provisions of section 7-279, the amount of
such fees to be certified by the mayor or clerk of such board to the proper auditing
officers of the municipality.
(1949 Rev., S. 662; P.A. 77-178, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 77-178 replaced references to "city" with references to "municipality".
See Sec. 52-260 re witness fees.
Active members of any legally organized police force in a
town, city or borough shall have the same authority to execute criminal process in their
respective towns, cities or boroughs as constables have in their respective towns, and, in
addition, any such member having a warrant of arrest arising out of an offense allegedly
committed in the town, city or borough in which such police force is located may execute
such warrant in any part of the state.
(1949 Rev., S. 663; 1967, P.A. 20, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act included towns and added provision concerning execution of warrants.
Police officers appointed by our municipalities are officers as fully as the sheriff of the county, charged with the
execution of a trust. 67 C. 310; 70 C. 121. Cited. 181 C. 562, 589. Cited. 210 C. 333, 342. Cited. 227 C. 363, 371, 372, 375.
Each municipal police department
shall have access to, and use of, the Connecticut On-Line Law Enforcement Communications Teleprocessing System without charge.
(P.A. 87-427, S. 1, 2.)
The police department of
any city, town or borough having or receiving any memoranda, sketches, charts, written
statements, reports or photographs made in the investigation of any accident wherein
any person has been injured or property damaged shall preserve and retain the same for
a period of at least ten years from the date of such accident. Subsequent to the final
disposition of any criminal action arising out of an accident, the records hereinbefore
specified and the information contained therein shall be open to public inspection, except
that such records shall be available to any person involved in the accident subsequent
to the issuance of a warrant or summons in such action.
(1949 Rev., S. 676; 1957, P.A. 248; P.A. 80-61.)
History: P.A. 80-61 raised period during which accident records must be maintained from three to ten years and added
provision that records be available to persons involved in accidents after warrant or summons issued.
See Sec. 29-10c re state police accident records.
Cited. 33 CA 727, 736.
Section 7-282a is repealed, effective
October 1, 1997.
(P.A. 76-89; P.A. 85-613, S. 86, 154; P.A. 97-162, S. 5.)
No person shall install or connect any
telephone device in his residence or place of business which device is capable of automatically calling and relaying recorded messages to a Division of State Police, or municipal police or fire department telephone number unless such person has given ten days'
notice of such connection or installation, in writing, to the state police troop commander,
or chief law enforcement or fire safety officer, as the case may be, of the municipality
where such residence or place of business is located.
(P.A. 79-466; P.A. 80-5.)
History: P.A. 80-5 included division of state police under provisions of section.
Any municipal
police department which receives a report of a missing child under fifteen years of age
shall immediately accept such report for filing and inform all on-duty police officers of
the existence of the missing child report and communicate the report to other appropriate
law enforcement agencies.
(P.A. 85-278.)
No municipal police
department may impose any quota with respect to the issuance of summonses for motor
vehicle violations upon any policeman in such department. Nothing in this section shall
prohibit such department from using data concerning the issuance of summonses in the
evaluation of an individual's work performance provided such data is not the exclusive
means of evaluating such performance. As used in this section, "quota" means a specified
number of summonses for motor vehicle violations to be issued within a specified period
of time.
(P.A. 91-222, S. 2, 3.)
No municipal corporation shall
employ private detectives in the investigation or detection of crime at an expense of
more than five hundred dollars unless a specific appropriation therefor has been made,
nor unless the authorities thereof have first applied to the state police for assistance in
such investigation and waited a reasonable time for said state police to act. Any municipal official who violates any provision of this section shall be fined not more than five
hundred dollars and shall be liable to such municipality in a civil action for the amount
expended in excess of such sum as has been appropriated for such investigation.
(1949 Rev., S. 664; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 587, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136.)
History: P.A. 77-614 and P.A. 78-303 made state police a division within the department of public safety rather than
a separate department, effective January 1, 1979.
Cited. 104 C. 15.
When police protection
is necessary or required at any boxing bout or wrestling match, place of public amusement, sport contest or hockey, baseball or basketball game, or any other exhibition or
contest, which is being held or is to be held in any municipality, the amount of such
protection necessary shall be determined and shall be furnished by (1) the chief or superintendent of the police department in any municipality having an organized or paid
police department or (2) the commanding officer of the state police troop having jurisdiction over the municipality in any municipality having a resident state trooper. Any such
protection shall be paid for by the person or persons operating, conducting or promoting
such game, exhibition or contest.
(1949 Rev., S. 704; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 82-193, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-21.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted division of state police within the department of public safety for state police department, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 82-193 clarified provisions dealing with the determination and provision of police
protection at places of amusement and added Subsec. (b) dealing with traffic control at certain pari-mutuel facilities; P.A.
85-21 deleted former Subsec. (b), which had permitted associations licensed under chapter 226 which conduct jai alai or
racing to employ persons to control traffic near pari-mutuel facilities.
Cited. 213 C. 269—274. Section was applied to plaintiff in a manner consistent with first amendment. 236 C. 781—
783, 786—791, 794, 799—807.
Inapplicable to restaurants and dances at restaurants. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 631.
The Commissioner
of Public Safety, the board of police commissioners, the chief of police, superintendent
of police or other authority having charge of a police department may sell by public
auction any and all articles found and which have remained in the possession thereof
for one year or more. Before such sale, such authority shall cause the time and place
thereof, and a description of such of the articles as are of the appraised value of fifty
dollars or more, to be advertised at least once a week, for two successive weeks, at least
two weeks prior to the actual sale date, in a daily newspaper published in the county in
which such articles were found or recovered. The proceeds of such sale, after deducting
the expenses thereof, shall be paid to the State Treasurer or the treasurer of the municipality, who shall keep the same as a separate fund to be used and applied for the relief of
sick, injured or disabled policemen, to be expended under the sole direction of such
commissioners or other authority in charge and upon their orders only. In any municipality where such a fund is otherwise provided for, such proceeds shall be deposited in its
general fund.
(1949 Rev., S. 667; 1961, P.A. 586; P.A. 75-530, S. 21, 35; P.A. 77-614, S. 486, 610; P.A. 93-65.)
History: 1961 act broadened section formerly applicable only to city departments to include all police departments and
added provision governing deposit of proceeds in general fund; P.A. 75-530 deleted provision allowing sale of stolen
articles; P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner of public safety for commissioner of state police, effective January 1, 1979;
P.A. 93-65 amended section to increase the value of property which must be noticed prior to its auction from five to fifty
dollars and provided for its advertisement at least two weeks prior to the sale.
See Sec. 7-296 re reserve funds of police departments.
See Secs. 50-9 to 50-14, inclusive, re towns' adoption of procedure with regard to lost goods.
In each city of this state having a
population of twenty thousand or more, as shown by the last-preceding United States
census, the board of police commissioners or police committee shall appoint a police
matron, whose duty it shall be to take charge of all women arrested and held by the
police of the city.
(1949 Rev., S. 668.)
The board of police
commissioners or the police committee in each such city shall assign a certain part of
the central police station of the city for female prisoners, which part shall be under the
care and control of the police matron, subject to the orders of the chief of police. There
shall also be provided by each such city a convenient private room for the use of the
police matron, either within the station or in its neighborhood.
(1949 Rev., S. 669.)
The police matron shall take charge of that
part of the station so assigned for female prisoners and keep the same in proper condition;
and shall, at all times when there are no female prisoners at the station, be within easy
call and attend day or night upon such call.
(1949 Rev., S. 670.)
Each police matron shall
be (1) a female police officer or (2) a woman at least eighteen years of age. The hiring
authority may establish other qualifications for the employment of police matrons and
require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications. Such matron shall receive such
salary as the common council of the city determines and may be removed by the board
of police commissioners or police committee if, in its judgment, the public interest
requires it. The officer in charge of the station shall, whenever it is necessary, order
policemen to assist the matron upon her request for such assistance.
(1949 Rev., S. 671; P.A. 87-39, S. 1, 2; P.A. 89-2; P.A. 91-171, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 87-39 reduced minimum age of matrons from thirty to eighteen; P.A. 89-2 authorized female police
officer to be qualified as a police matron; P.A. 91-171 eliminated from the qualifications for a matron that a woman at
least eighteen years of age be "of good moral character, recommended in writing by at least five men and five women of
good standing, who have been for five years residents of the city", and added provision authorizing the hiring authority to
establish other qualifications and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications.
Any city, required by section
7-286 to have a police matron, may provide a separate station for the detention of female
prisoners. In any city which has no board of police commissioners or board charged
with its general duties, the powers and duties hereby given and assigned to such a board
may be exercised and discharged by the mayor of the city.
(1949 Rev., S. 672.)
Section 7-291 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 673; P.A. 82-327, S. 12.)
(a) Any municipality
may, by ordinance, adopt an average work week of forty hours for permanent paid
policemen as provided in sections 7-293 and 7-294 and this section.
(b) The legislative body of such municipality may, by ordinance, or shall, upon
petition of the electors of such municipality in number not less than five per cent of
the total number of electors on the last-completed registry list, submit the question of
adopting the provisions of said sections to a vote of the electors thereof at the next
general election or at a special election or meeting called for such purpose. Any such
petition shall contain the ordinance to be voted upon by the electors. Such election or
meeting shall be called and held, and the vote on such question canvassed and the result
determined and certified, as nearly as may be in accordance with the provisions of the
laws governing the election of civil officers in such municipality. The notice or warning
for such election or meeting shall state that a purpose of such election or meeting is to
ascertain whether or not such municipality shall adopt an average work week of forty
hours for permanent paid policemen and that such election or meeting is called under
the provisions of this section. The vote on such question shall be by voting machine,
and the voting machine ballot label, which shall bear the words "For a forty-hour week
for policemen" and "Against a forty-hour week for policemen", shall be provided for
use in accordance with the provisions of section 9-250. If, upon the official determination
of the result of such vote, it appears that a majority of those voting on the question are
in favor of the adoption of the provisions of sections 7-293 and 7-294 and this section,
said sections shall take effect as to such municipality no later than ninety days thereafter,
provided, where the fiscal year of any such municipality begins within ninety days
thereafter, the effective date of said sections for such municipality shall not be later than
the first day of the fiscal year next following the expiration of the ninety-day period.
(1951, S. 431d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 50.)
The work week for all permanent paid members of the
uniformed police force for municipalities adopting sections 7-292 to 7-294, inclusive,
shall be an average work week of not more than forty hours, computed over a period
of one fiscal or calendar year, as the municipality elects; provided, unless otherwise
prescribed by regulation or ordinance, any time spent in an emergency in excess of any
regularly assigned or scheduled work week in connection with any actual police duty,
including time spent going to, working at or returning from any actual police duty, or
any other work or duty classified as an act of emergency shall not be included in computing such average work week.
(1951, S. 432d.)
There shall be no diminution in the weekly
earnings of any police in municipalities adopting the provisions of sections 7-292 to 7-
294, inclusive, nor shall there be any lessening of any of their existing rights and privileges, as the result of the adoption of the work week provided therein.
(1951, S. 433d.)
As
used in this section and sections 7-294b to 7-294e, inclusive, "academy" means the
Connecticut Police Academy; "applicant" means a prospective police officer who has
not commenced employment or service with a law enforcement unit; "basic training"
means the minimum basic law enforcement training received by a police officer at the
academy or at any other certified law enforcement training academy; "certification"
means the issuance by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council to a police
officer, police training school or to a law enforcement instructor of a signed instrument
evidencing satisfaction of the certification requirements imposed by section 7-294d,
and signed by the council; "council" means the Police Officer Standards and Training
Council; "Governor" includes any person performing the functions of the Governor by
authority of the law of this state; "review training" means training received after minimum basic law enforcement training; "law enforcement unit" means any agency, organ
or department of this state or a subdivision or municipality thereof, whose primary
functions include the enforcement of criminal or traffic laws, the preservation of public
order, the protection of life and property, or the prevention, detection or investigation
of crime; "police officer" means a sworn member of an organized local police department, an appointed constable who performs criminal law enforcement duties, a special
policeman appointed under section 29-18, 29-18a or 29-19 or any member of a law
enforcement unit who performs police duties; "probationary candidate" means a police
officer who, having satisfied preemployment requirements, has commenced employment with a law enforcement unit but who has not satisfied the training requirements
provided for in section 7-294d; "school" means any school, college, university, academy
or training program approved by the council which offers law enforcement training and
includes a combination of a course curriculum, instructors and facilities.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 684; 1971, P.A. 571; 1972, P.A. 119, S. 2; P.A. 81-426, S. 2.; P.A. 82-357,
S. 1, 8; P.A. 87-560, S. 1; P.A. 95-108, S. 2.)
History: 1969 act included constables in definition of "police officer"; 1971 act excluded supervisory personnel from
definition of "police officer"; 1972 act included members of special police force at The University of Connecticut, Storrs
in definition of "police officer"; P.A. 81-426 redefined "police officer", deleted the definition of "municipality" and
added the following definitions: "Academy", "applicant", "basic training", "certification", "in-service training", "law
enforcement unit", "probationary candidate" and "school"; P.A. 82-357 changed "in-service training" to "review training",
and redefined "police officer" to clearly distinguish between "part-time" and all other officers; P.A. 87-560 amended the
definition of (1) "certification" to include the issuance of a signed instrument evidencing satisfaction of certification
requirements to a police training school or a law enforcement instructor, (2) "police officer" to delete reference to performance of police duties "twenty or more hours per week", (3) "probationary candidate" to delete reference to having commenced "full-time" employment and deleted the definition of "part-time"; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training
Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.
(a) There shall be a
Police Officer Standards and Training Council which shall be within the Division of
State Police of the Department of Public Safety for administrative purposes only and
which shall consist of the following members appointed by the Governor: (1) A chief
administrative officer of a town or city in Connecticut; (2) the chief elected official or
chief executive officer of a town or city in Connecticut with a population under twelve
thousand which does not have an organized police department; (3) a member of the
faculty of The University of Connecticut; (4) eight members of the Connecticut Police
Chiefs Association who are holding office or employed as chief of police or the highest
ranking professional police officer of an organized police department of a municipality
within the state; (5) the Chief State's Attorney; (6) a member of the Connecticut Coalition
of Police and Corrections Officers; and (7) five public members. The Commissioner
of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent-in-charge in
Connecticut or their designees shall be voting ex-officio members of the council. Any
nonpublic member of the council shall immediately upon the termination of his holding
the office or employment which qualified him for appointment cease to be a member
of the council. A member appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the unexpired
term of the member whom he is to succeed in the same manner as the original appointment. The Governor shall appoint a chairperson and the council shall appoint a vice-
chairperson and a secretary from among the members. The members of the council shall
serve without compensation but shall be entitled to actual expenses involved in the
performance of their duties.
(b) Membership on the council shall not constitute holding a public office. No member of the council shall be disqualified from holding any public office or employment
by reason of his appointment to or membership on the council nor shall any member
forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his appointment to the council,
notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, special act or local law, ordinance
or charter.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 2, 4; P.A. 77-290; 77-614, S. 487, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 9, 136; P.A. 79-560, S. 34, 39;
P.A. 82-357, S. 2, 8; P.A. 87-477, S. 3; P.A. 89-376, S. 2; P.A. 93-43; P.A. 95-108, S. 3; P.A. 97-5.)
History: P.A. 77-290 added to provision concerning appointment the phrase calling for service until successors are
appointed in Subsec. (a); P.A. 77-614 placed council within the department of public safety for administrative purposes,
effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 78-303 substituted commissioner of public safety for commissioner of state police to fulfill
requirements of P.A. 77-614, S. 486; P.A. 79-560 added requirement that there be five public members; P.A. 82-357 put
the council within the division of state police for administrative purposes only and made provisions for the appointment
of a chairperson, vice-chairperson and secretary; P.A. 87-477 added chief state's attorney as member of council; P.A. 89-
376 amended Subsec. (a) to permit public safety commissioner and FBI special agent-in-charge to have designees and to
be voting ex-officio members of council; P.A. 93-43 amended Subsec. (a) to insert new Subdiv. (3) extending membership
to chief elected official or chief executive officer of a town with a population under twelve thousand which does not have
an organized police department; P.A. 95-108 amended Subsec. (a) to rename Municipal Police Training Council as Police
Officer Standards and Training Council; P.A. 97-5 amended Subsec. (a) to insert new Subdiv. (6) extending membership
on council to a member of the Connecticut Coalition of Police and Corrections Officers, and renumbered the remaining
Subdiv. accordingly.
See title 2c re termination under "Sunset Law".
See Sec. 4-38f for definition of "administrative purposes only".
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.
The council shall submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly which shall include pertinent data regarding the comprehensive municipal police training plan and an accounting of all grants, contributions,
gifts, donations or other financial assistance.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 3; P.A. 82-357, S. 5, 8.)
History: P.A. 82-357 broadened the scope of the annual report to include accounting of grants, contributions and other
financial assistance.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.
Sec. 7-294d. Powers of council. Certification of police officers, police training
schools and law enforcement instructors. Refusal to renew, cancellation or revocation of certification. Automatic certification. Exemptions. (a) The Police Officer
Standards and Training Council shall have the following powers:
(1) To develop and periodically update and revise a comprehensive municipal police training plan;
(2) To approve, or revoke the approval of, any police training school and to issue
certification to such schools and to revoke such certification;
(3) To set the minimum courses of study and attendance required and the equipment
and facilities to be required of approved police training schools;
(4) To set the minimum qualifications for law enforcement instructors and to issue
appropriate certification to such instructors;
(5) To require that all probationary candidates receive the hours of basic training
deemed necessary before being eligible for certification, such basic training to be completed within one year following the appointment as a probationary candidate, unless
the candidate is granted additional time to complete such basic training by the council;
(6) To require the registration of probationary candidates with the academy within
ten days of hiring for the purpose of scheduling training;
(7) To issue appropriate certification to police officers who have satisfactorily completed minimum basic training programs;
(8) To require that each police officer satisfactorily complete at least forty hours of
certified review training every three years in order to maintain certification, unless the
officer is granted additional time not to exceed one year to complete such training by
the council;
(9) To renew the certification of those police officers who have satisfactorily completed review training programs;
(10) To establish uniform minimum educational and training standards for employment as a police officer in full-time positions, temporary or probationary positions and
part-time or voluntary positions;
(11) To visit and inspect police basic training schools and to inspect each school at
least once each year;
(12) To consult with and cooperate with universities, colleges and institutes for the
development of specialized courses of study for police officers in police science and
police administration;
(13) To consult with and cooperate with departments and agencies of this state and
other states and the federal government concerned with police training;
(14) To employ an executive director and any other personnel that may be necessary
in the performance of its functions;
(15) To perform any other acts that may be necessary and appropriate to carry out
the functions of the council as set forth in sections 7-294a to 7-294e, inclusive;
(16) To accept contributions, grants, gifts, donations, services or other financial
assistance from any governmental unit, public agency or the private sector;
(17) To conduct any inspection and evaluation that may be necessary to determine
if a law enforcement unit is complying with the provisions of this section;
(18) At the request and expense of any law enforcement unit, to conduct general or
specific management surveys;
(19) To develop objective and uniform criteria for granting any waiver of regulations or procedures established by the council;
(20) To recruit, select and appoint candidates to the position of probationary candidate, as defined in section 7-294a, and provide recruit training for candidates of the
Connecticut Police Corps program in accordance with the Police Corps Act, 42 USC
14091 et seq., as amended from time to time.
(b) No person may be employed as a police officer by any law enforcement unit
for a period exceeding one year unless he has been certified under the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section or has been granted an extension by the council. No person
may serve as a police officer during any period when his certification has been cancelled
or revoked pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. In addition to the
requirements of this subsection, the council may establish other qualifications for the
employment of police officers and require evidence of fulfillment of these qualifications.
The certification of any police officer who is not employed by a law enforcement unit
for a period of time in excess of two years, unless such officer is on leave of absence,
shall be considered lapsed. Upon reemployment as a police officer, such officer shall
apply for recertification in a manner provided by the council. The council shall certify
any applicant who presents evidence of satisfactory completion of a program or course
of instruction in another state equivalent in content and quality to that required in this
state, provided he passes an examination or evaluation as required by the council.
(c) (1) The council may refuse to renew any certificate if the holder fails to meet
the requirements for renewal of his certification.
(2) The council may cancel or revoke any certificate if: (A) The certificate was
issued by administrative error, (B) the certificate was obtained through misrepresentation or fraud, (C) the holder falsified any document in order to obtain or renew any
certificate, (D) the holder has been convicted of a felony, (E) the holder has been found
not guilty of a felony by reason of mental disease or defect pursuant to section 53a-13,
(F) the holder has been convicted of a violation of subsection (c) of section 21a-279
or section 29-9, (G) the holder has been refused issuance of a certificate or similar
authorization or has had his certificate or other authorization cancelled or revoked by
another jurisdiction on grounds which would authorize cancellation or revocation under
the provisions of this subdivision, or (H) the holder has been found by a law enforcement
unit, pursuant to procedures established by such unit, to have used a firearm in an improper manner which resulted in the death or serious physical injury of another person.
Whenever the council believes there is a reasonable basis for cancellation or revocation
of the certification of a police officer, police training school or law enforcement instructor, it shall give an adequate opportunity for a hearing prior to such cancellation or
revocation. Any police officer or law enforcement instructor whose certification is cancelled or revoked pursuant to this section may reapply for certification no sooner than
two years after the date on which the cancellation or revocation order becomes final.
Any police training school whose certification is cancelled or revoked pursuant to this
section may reapply for certification at any time after the date on which such order
becomes final.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), any police officer, except a
probationary candidate, who is serving under full-time appointment on July 1, 1982,
shall be deemed to have met all certification requirements and shall be automatically
certified by the council in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of section
7-294e.
(e) The provisions of this section shall apply to any person who performs police
functions. As used in this subsection, "performs police functions" for a person who is
not a police officer, as defined in section 7-294a, means that in the course of his official
duties, such person carries a firearm and exercises arrest powers pursuant to section 54-
1f or engages in the prevention, detection or investigation of crime, as defined in section
53a-24. The council shall establish criteria by which the certification process required
by this section shall apply to police officers.
(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to (1) any state police training
school or program, (2) any sworn member of the Division of State Police within the
Department of Public Safety, (3) Connecticut National Guard security personnel, when
acting within the scope of their National Guard duties, who have satisfactorily completed
a program of police training conducted by the United States Army or Air Force, (4)
employees of the Judicial Department, (5) municipal animal control officers appointed
pursuant to section 22-331, or (6) fire police appointed pursuant to section 7-313a.
The provisions of this section with respect to renewal of certification upon satisfactory
completion of review training programs shall not apply to any chief inspector or inspector in the Division of Criminal Justice who has satisfactorily completed a program of
police training conducted by the division.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 5; 1967, P.A. 669; P.A. 77-289; P.A. 81-426, S. 3; P.A. 82-357, S. 3, 8; P.A. 87-99; 87-
560, S. 2; P.A. 91-186; P.A. 92-128, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-271, S. 1, 3; 93-435, S. 1, 95; P.A. 94-44, S. 1, 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A.
94-6, S. 10, 28; P.A. 95-108, S. 4; P.A. 00-51, S. 1, 2; P.A. 01-195, S. 13, 181.)
History: 1967 act inserted new Subdiv. (k) re personnel and relettered former Subdiv. (k) as Subdiv. (l); P.A. 77-289
added Subdiv. (m) re acceptance of contributions etc.; P.A. 81-426 expanded the authority of the council to all police
training programs, except the state police, and enlarged the scope of its powers to include requiring a minimum of four
hundred eighty hours of basic training for all probationary candidates and setting requirements of in-service training
programs and certification; P.A. 82-357 broadened the powers of the council and added provisions dealing with certification
of police officers, cancellation or revocation of certificates, automatic certification and part-time police officers; P.A. 87-
99 amended Subsec. (f), exempting certain Connecticut national guard security personnel from training requirements; P.A.
87-560 amended (1) Subsec. (a) to delete requirement in Subdiv. (7) re any police officer hired on a part-time basis,
renumbering all remaining subdivisions; to require issuance of "certification" in lieu of "certificates of approval" or "certificates"; to clarify that each police officer complete forty hours of review training every three years "in order to maintain
his certification"; to require the renewal of certification for those officers who have satisfactorily completed review training
and to require the establishment of "uniform" minimum educational and training standards for all police officers; (2)
Subsec. (c) to authorize council to refuse to renew any certificate if holder thereof fails to meet requirements for certification
renewal; to require council to give adequate opportunity for a hearing whenever it believes there is reasonable basis for
cancellation or revocation of a police training school or law enforcement instructor certification; to permit a law enforcement
instructor to reapply for certification two years after date cancellation or revocation order becomes final and to permit a
police training school to reapply for certification at any time after date on which order becomes final; and (3) Subsec. (e)
to specifically provide that section applies to any person who performs police functions, deleting reference to "twenty or
more hours per week"; P.A. 91-186 amended Subsec. (f) to exempt any chief inspector or inspector in division of criminal
justice who has completed division training program from requirements re renewal of certification; P.A. 92-128 amended
Subsec. (c) to authorize council to cancel or revoke any certificate if holder falsified any document in order to obtain or
renew any certificate, has been found not guilty of a felony due to mental disease or defect, has been convicted of a violation
of Sec. 21a-279(c) or 29-9, has been refused issuance of a certificate or has had certificate revoked by another jurisdiction
or has been found to have used a firearm in an improper manner which resulted in death or serious physical injury of
another person; P.A. 93-271 amended Subsec. (a) to delete requirement in Subdiv. (5) that probationary candidates receive
a minimum of four hundred eighty hours of basic training and substitute requirement that such candidates receive the hours
of basic training deemed necessary and to eliminate obsolete provision in Subdiv. (8) relating to police officers who have
completed basic training on or before July 1, 1982, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 93-435 made a technical change in Subdiv.
(2) of Subsec. (c), effective June 28, 1993; P.A. 94-44 amended Subdiv. (8) of Subsec. (a) to authorize council to grant
additional time not to exceed one year to a police officer to complete his certified review training, effective May 24, 1994;
May Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-6 amended Subsec. (f) to add the exception for employees of the judicial department, effective July
1, 1994; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council,
amended Subsec. (e) to add definition of "performs police functions" and amended Subsec. (f) to explicitly exempt from
the section's training requirements sworn members of the state police, trained sheriffs or deputy sheriffs, municipal animal
control officers and fire police; P.A. 00-51 amended Subsec. (a) to add management of Connecticut Police Corps program
to powers of council and made technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality, effective May 16, 2000; P.A. 01-
195 amended Subsec. (f) to delete former Subdiv. (5) re sheriffs or deputy sheriffs and renumber existing Subdivs. (6) and
(7) as Subdivs. (5) and (6), effective July 11, 2001.
See Sec. 7-294f re requirement that police basic training programs include course on rape crisis intervention.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 125, 128, 129.
Subsec. (a):
Subdiv. (10) does not establish explicit, well-established and dominant public policy that, irrespective of or in limitation
of collective bargaining agreement, a town has control over termination for fitness for duty of a police officer. 255 C. 800.
(a) Notwithstanding
the provisions of any general statute or special act or local law, ordinance or charter
to the contrary, each police officer shall forfeit his appointment and position unless
recertified by the council according to procedures and within the time frame established
by the council.
(b) The Police Officer Standards and Training Council may adopt any regulations
it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of section 7-294a, subsection (a) of section
7-294b, sections 7-294c, 7-294d and this section in accordance with the provisions of
chapter 54, giving due consideration to the varying factors and special requirements of
law enforcement units. Such regulations shall be binding upon all law enforcement units,
except the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety.
(February, 1965, P.A. 575, S. 6; P.A. 81-426, S. 4; P.A. 82-357, S. 4, 8; P.A. 91-73, S. 2, 4; P.A. 95-108, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 81-426 provided that after October 1, 1981, every person who is appointed a police officer, except a state
police officer, must complete a basic training program and be awarded a certificate by the council or lose his position;
P.A. 82-357 provided for recertification procedures effective July 1, 1982 and deleted obsolete provision which had allowed
fifteen-year grace period for police officers serving without certification on October 1, 1966; P.A. 91-73 deleted obsolete
provisions in Subsec. (a); P.A. 95-108 amended Subsec. (b) to rename Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer
Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-26 re training at State Police Training School.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.
Sec. 7-294f. State and local police training programs to include course on rape
crisis intervention. Each police basic training program conducted or administered by
the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, the Police Officer
Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or municipal police
department in the state shall include a course on rape crisis intervention and each review
training program conducted by such agencies shall make provision for such a course.
(P.A. 82-60; P.A. 95-108, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.
Sec. 7-294g. State and local police training programs to provide training re
domestic violence, child abuse, and suicide intervention procedures. (a) Each police
basic or review training program conducted or administered by the Division of State
Police within the Department of Public Safety, by the Police Officer Standards and
Training Council established under section 7-294b or by a municipal police department
in the state shall provide a minimum of two hours of training on the subject of domestic
violence that includes, but is not limited to, the following: (1) Enforcement of criminal
laws applicable in cases involving domestic violence; (2) techniques for handling incidents of domestic violence which promote the safety of the victim and the officer and
which reduce the likelihood of recurrence; (3) organizations in the state that offer aid
or shelter to victims of domestic violence; (4) applicable procedures in the prosecution
of cases involving domestic violence; (5) orders issued by a court pursuant to chapter
815a. The Division of State Police, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council
or municipal police departments, in consultation with the Connecticut Task Force on
Abused Women, shall develop a program curriculum and shall submit such curriculum
to the task force for approval. Individual shelter programs in the task force may also
conduct domestic violence training in conjunction with any police training program.
(b) Each police basic training program conducted or administered by the Division
of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, by the Police Officer Standards
and Training Council established under section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall include a course on the recognition and management of child
abuse and suicide intervention procedures.
(P.A. 85-581; P.A. 89-172; P.A. 95-108, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 89-172 added Subsec. (b) to include in each police basic training program a course on the recognition
and management of child abuse and suicide prevention procedures; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training
Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council (Revisor's note: The word "by" preceding references to "the
Police Officer Standards and Training Council" in Subsecs. (a) and (b) was added editorially by the Revisors for grammatical
correctness and conformity with wording of Sec. 7-294h).
Cited. 13 CA 124, 128.
Sec. 7-294h. State and local police training programs to provide training on
the handling of juvenile matters. On and after July 1, 1990: (1) Each police basic
training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the
Department of Public Safety shall provide a minimum of twenty-seven hours of training
relative to the handling of juvenile matters which includes, but is not limited to, the
following: (A) Techniques for handling incidents involving juveniles; (B) information
relative to the processing and disposition of juvenile matters; (C) applicable procedures
in the prosecution of cases involving juveniles, and (D) information regarding resources
of the juvenile justice system in the state; (2) each police basic training program conducted or administered by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established
under section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall provide a
minimum of fourteen hours of training relative to the handling of juvenile matters as
provided in subdivision (1) of this section; and (3) each police review training program
conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of
Public Safety, by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under
section 7-294b or by a municipal police department in the state shall provide a minimum
of one hour of training relative to the handling of juvenile matters as provided in subdivision (1) of this section.
(P.A. 89-273, S. 12; P.A. 95-108, S. 8.)
History: P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
Transferred to Sec. 7-294y.
Transferred to Sec. 7-294m.
Transferred to Sec. 7-294z.
Sec. 7-294l. State and local police training programs to provide training on
gang-related violence. Each police basic or review training program conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, the
Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b or a
municipal police department in the state shall include training on gang-related violence.
(P.A. 93-416, S. 4, 10; P.A. 95-108, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 93-416 effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer
Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-7n(a) re definition of "gang".
Sec. 7-294m. (Formerly Sec. 7-294j). Instruction re new legal developments
for municipal chief law enforcement officers. (1) The Police Officer Standards and
Training Council established under section 7-294b, in conjunction with the office of
the Chief State's Attorney and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, and (2) the
Division of State Police within the Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with
the office of the Chief State's Attorney, shall provide instruction on the subject of new
legal developments which affect police policies and practices concerning the investigation, detection and prosecution of criminal matters, each year to the chief law enforcement officer of each municipality and any person designated by him to serve in such
capacity in his absence. Each such officer may be given credit for such course of instruction toward the certified review training required by subsection (a) of section 7-294d.
(P.A. 90-120, S. 2, 3; P.A. 93-63; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 7, 130; P.A. 95-108, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 93-63 deleted requirement that instruction be provided for a minimum of four hours in two sessions to
police officers who have managerial duties, substituting requirement that instruction be provided to chief law enforcement
officer of each municipality and any person designated to serve in such capacity in his absence and authorized credit for
such instruction toward certified review training; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 made technical grammatical change, effective
July 1, 1994; Sec. 7-294j transferred to Sec. 7-294m in 1995; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as
Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-2a re legal review of state police policies and practices.
Sec. 7-294n. State and local police training programs to provide training on
crimes motivated by bigotry or bias. Each police basic or review training program
conducted or administered by the Division of State Police within the Department of
Public Safety, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under
section 7-294b or a municipal police department in the state shall include training relative
to crimes motivated by bigotry or bias.
(P.A. 00-72, S. 6, 12.)
History: P.A. 00-72 effective July 1, 2001.
Reserved for future use.
The Police Officer Standards and Training Council established under section 7-294b
shall provide training to security personnel employed in the public schools by a local
or regional board of education. Such training shall include drug detection and gang
identification.
(P.A. 93-416, S. 5, 10; P.A. 95-108, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 93-416 effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 95-108 renamed Municipal Police Training Council as Police Officer
Standards and Training Council.
See Sec. 29-7n(a) re definition of "gang".
Not later than July 1, 1990, the Division of
State Police within the Department of Public Safety and each municipal police department in the state shall establish a written policy or update its current policy with respect to
the handling and processing of juvenile matters including, but not limited to, procedures
concerning the arrest, referral, diversion and detention of juveniles. The Division of
State Police and each municipal police department shall inform its police officers of
such policy not later than July 1, 1990.
(P.A. 89-273, S. 13.)
History: Sec. 7-294i transferred to Sec. 7-294y in 1995.
(a) On and after July 1, 1992, no hand-held radar device that emits
nonionizing radiation may be used in this state by any state or municipal police officer
in the course of his employment for the purpose of preventing or detecting any violation
of any law relating to motor vehicles.
(b) On and after July 1, 1992, no speed monitoring radar device that emits nonionizing radiation may be used within the confines of a patrol vehicle by any state or municipal
police officer in the course of his employment for the purpose of preventing or detecting
any violation of any law relating to motor vehicles.
(P.A. 92-141, S. 1, 3.)
History: Sec. 7-294k transferred to Sec. 7-294z in 1995.
PART II
POLICE RESERVE FUND
The provisions of this part shall apply to any
municipality having a police department under the management of a commissioner,
superintendent, board of police commissioners or police committee, which accepts the
provisions of this part by an affirmative vote of the electors of such municipality at a
referendum warned and held for the purpose of accepting the same in the manner prescribed in section 9-369. In any such referendum election, the designation of the question
on the voting machine ballot label shall be "Shall a Police Reserve Fund be established?".
The provisions hereof shall not apply to cities authorized by special charter to establish
a police benefit or reserve fund.
(1949 Rev., S. 904; 1953, S. 417d; P.A. 86-170, S. 5, 13.)
History: P.A. 86-170 required that designation on ballot label be in form of question.
See Sec. 9-1 for applicable definitions.
There shall be in each city a fund
to be known as the "reserve fund of the police department" and said fund shall consist
of: (1) All property specially devised or given for the benefit of disabled policemen
and all property given to the department on account of service rendered; (2) all lost or
abandoned money, in charge of the board of police commissioners or police committee
of such city, and all moneys arising from the sale of abandoned or lost property, in
charge of such board, available for the purpose by the laws of the state; (3) all rewards,
fees, gifts, testimonials and emoluments presented to any member of the police force
on account of special services, except such as are allowed by such board or committee
to be retained by such member, and all moneys collected from members of the police
force by way of fines or forfeiture of pay imposed or ordered by such board and all
money deducted or withheld from the pay of members of the police force on account
of lost time; (4) the income and interest from all property and moneys belonging to said
fund, and (5) such moneys as are from time to time appropriated for that purpose by the
common council of such city. The board of police commissioners or the police committee shall be a board of trustees of the reserve fund and the treasurer of the city shall be
the treasurer of said fund. The president of such board or committee shall be president
of such board of trustees and shall draw all orders upon said fund, which shall be countersigned by the secretary of such board of trustees, who shall be designated by the board.
The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the board of trustees and of all
action taken by it with regard to said fund. The board of trustees shall have general
charge of said fund and may, by a majority vote, direct the treasurer to invest any portion
of the same in any securities authorized by the laws of the state as investments for trust
funds or to deposit the same or any portion thereof in any of the savings banks of the
state. The board of trustees shall report to the common council yearly the condition of
the reserve fund, with the items of all the receipts and disbursements on account of the
same. If the reserve fund is found at any time insufficient to meet all requirements
upon it, the common council, upon application of the board of trustees, may make an
appropriation to make good such deficiency, and any prospective deficiency in said
fund may be provided for by the common council in its annual appropriation for the
police department.
(1949 Rev., S. 905; P.A. 75-530, S. 22, 35.)
History: P.A. 75-530 deleted references to unclaimed or stolen money or property.
See Sec. 7-285 re sales of unclaimed goods by police departments.
See Sec. 50-14 re disposition of lost goods after expiration of time for making claim.
Does not prohibit by implication deductions from pay of policemen. 137 C. 43.
In addition to the supernumerary and regular police force in each city, there shall be an honorary grade, known
as the veteran reserve, to which the police commissioners or police committee may, at
its discretion, by a unanimous vote, with the approval of the mayor, transfer any member
of the regular force who, through age, or physical disabilities incurred in the discharge
of perilous duty, or in long and faithful service, becomes permanently disqualified for
the more active duties of the regular grade; provided the pay of the members of the
veteran reserve shall be regulated by the police commissioners or police committee in
accordance with the amount of duty performed and shall not be more than one-half nor
less than one-fourth of the rate of compensation previously received by such members
while in the regular grade; and provided any member of the veteran reserve may be
removed in the same manner as a member of the regular force. The board of police
commissioners or police committee may, at its discretion, by the affirmative vote of the
whole number of its members and with the approval of the mayor, as a reward for
conspicuously meritorious service, permanently retire from duty any member of the
regular force or of the veteran reserve, after twenty years of continuous service in the
department, upon certificate of the surgeon of the department or of a board of surgeons
to be designated by such board or such committee, showing that such member is permanently disabled, physically or mentally, so as to be unfit for any police duty; provided
such surgeon or board of surgeons shall further certify that, in his or their opinion, such
disability is due either to the natural infirmities of old age or to injury received or exposure endured in the performance of duty in such department; and such member so retired
shall be entitled to receive from said fund, during his lifetime, unless such vote is
annulled by a unanimous vote of the members of such board or committee, with the
approval of the mayor, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars annually or, in case
of officers other than patrolmen, not exceeding one-half the pay of such officers when
retired, such sum to be payable in monthly installments. Such board or such committee
may, by the affirmative vote of the whole number of its members, with the approval of
the mayor, permanently retire any member of the supernumerary or regular police force
who, while in the actual performance of police duty and by reason of the performance
of such duty and without fault or misconduct on his part, has become permanently
disabled, physically or mentally, so as to be entirely unfitted to perform such duty; and
such member so retired shall be entitled to receive from said fund, during his lifetime,
unless such vote is annulled by the unanimous vote of the members of such board or
committee, with the approval of the mayor, an annual sum payable monthly, not exceeding one-half nor less than one-fourth of his previous compensation per annum; or,
in the case of a member of the supernumerary force, not exceeding one-half nor less
than one-fourth of the compensation of a patrolman of the regular force. Whenever such
board or committee annuls a vote placing a policeman on the retired list, such board or
committee shall file with the trustees of the reserve fund a written statement of the causes
which determined them in annulling such vote. When any member of the police force
has been killed while in the actual performance of duty or has died from the effects of
any injury received while in the actual discharge of such duty, such board or committee
may, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of its members, with
the approval of the mayor, direct a sum not exceeding three hundred dollars a year,
payable in installments, as such board or committee directs, to be paid from said fund
to the widow of such policeman; or, if he has no widow, to his child or children not over
eighteen years of age, and to his child or children being under eighteen years of age,
after the death or marriage of his widow; provided such annual payment shall cease if
such widow marries again, and shall cease when all of such children attain the age of
eighteen years, and may at any time be stopped or the amount of the payment changed
by the vote of a majority of the whole number of the members of such board or committee,
with the approval of the mayor, and shall in no case be continued for a longer period
than ten years.
(1949 Rev., S. 906.)
Nothing in this part shall be
construed as limiting the power of removal of policemen vested in the board of police
commissioners or police committee by the charter of any city, except that no member
of the retired list shall be removed until he has had an opportunity to be heard in his
own behalf before such board or committee. Such board or committee may, at its discretion, order any member on the retired list to be examined or reexamined by the surgeon
of the department or by a board of surgeons to be designated by such board or committee,
and, if such member is reported capable of performing duty, such board or committee
may, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of its members, with
the approval of the mayor, restore such member to either the regular or veteran reserve
force and may, in like manner, transfer any member of the veteran reserve to the regular
force.
(1949 Rev., S. 907.)
Each city shall have authority, by ordinance, to make
regulations, not inconsistent herewith, for giving full effect to the provisions of this part.
(1949 Rev., S. 908; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 6.)
History: 1963 act substituted word "part" for "chapter."
In any town or borough which has established a police reserve fund under the provisions of this part, the
powers and duties vested in and imposed upon the mayor or common council of a city
shall, in the case of a town, be vested in and imposed upon the board of selectmen
thereof, and, in the case of a borough, be vested in and imposed upon the warden or
burgesses thereof, except that, in the case of a borough or a town, all appropriations
shall be made by the body authorized to make appropriations therein.
(1949 Rev., S. 909.)
PART III
FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Any town may provide by ordinance for the protection of property within its limits from fire and for the establishment
of a town fire department and for the management, discipline and control thereof by the
board of selectmen or, if there is a town council, by the town council, or by a board of
fire commissioners of such number, chosen in such manner and for such terms as the
ordinance provides. The board of selectmen, town council or board of fire commissioners may make regulations for the conduct of the fire department and may appoint, discipline and remove for cause shown all employees of the department and purchase supplies
and equipment necessary for its operation; provided, if the ordinance so provides, the
board of selectmen, town council or board of fire commissioners shall enter into an
agreement with any volunteer fire company or companies within the town for the protection thereof from fire on such conditions as to financial assistance and the observance
of the regulations of the board of selectmen, town council or board of fire commissioners
as such ordinance prescribes; and provided no town fire department established under
the provisions of this section shall supersede any volunteer fire company which is the
owner of any building, fire apparatus or other property without having first come to an
agreement with such company with regard to the disposition of and compensation for
such building, apparatus or other property. Such town may, at any meeting specially
warned for the purpose, make appropriations and lay taxes for the support thereof; but
this section shall not be operative within the limits of any city, borough or incorporated
fire district which has an established fire department. Nothing in this section shall prevent any town, city, borough or incorporated fire district from appropriating funds to a
volunteer fire company or companies for services rendered or to be rendered within the
confines of such town, city, borough or district by such fire company or companies,
provided such town, city, borough or incorporated fire district shall deem it in the public
interest to do so.
(1949 Rev., S. 677; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 18; 1959, P.A. 606, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act added provision protecting town's, city's or borough's power to appropriate funds to volunteer fire
companies for services.
See Sec. 29-297 re appointment of local fire marshals and deputies.
Firemen perform governmental acts and municipality is not liable for their negligence. 38 C. 368. See 80 C. 386. Cited.
196 C. 192, 198, 200.
No
active head of any fire department of any town, city or borough shall be dismissed unless
he has been given notice in writing of the specific grounds for such dismissal and an
opportunity to be heard in his own defense, personally or by counsel, at a public hearing
before the authority having the power of dismissal. Such public hearing, unless otherwise
specified by charter, shall be held not less than five nor more than ten days after such
notice. Any person so dismissed may appeal within thirty days following such dismissal
to the superior court for the judicial district in which such town, city or borough is
located. Service shall be made as in civil process. Said court shall review the record of
such hearing, and, if it appears upon the hearing upon the appeal that testimony is necessary for an equitable disposition of the appeal, it may take evidence or appoint a referee
or a committee to take such evidence as it directs and report the same to the court with
his or its findings of fact, which report shall constitute a part of the proceedings upon
which the determination of the court shall be made. The court, upon such appeal, and
after a hearing thereon, may affirm the action of such authority, or may set the same
aside if it finds that such authority acted illegally or arbitrarily, or in the abuse of its
discretion, or with bad faith or malice.
(1949, 1951, 1955, S. 425d; P.A. 76-436, S. 289, 681; P.A. 78-280, S. 1, 127.)
History: P.A. 76-436 substituted superior court for court of common pleas and added judicial district reference, effective
July 1, 1978; P.A. 78-280 deleted reference to counties.
Cited. 209 C. 352, 362.
The following words
as used in sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive, shall have the following meanings: "Municipality" includes each town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough,
school district, fire, sewer and other district, improvement association or any other political subdivision of the state upon which is placed, or which has assumed, the duty of
extinguishing fires and protecting its inhabitants from loss by fire. "Work" or "duty"
includes the time spent and duties performed while at fires, answering alarms, returning
from fires, attending fire drills or classes, conducting tests or trials of any of the apparatus
or equipment normally used by a fire department, instructing or being instructed in fire
duties, and any other duty which is ordered to be performed by a superior or commanding
officer in the fire department.
(1949, S. 426d.)
Legislature may enact laws relative to hours of service of firemen without infringing on municipality's right of home
rule or local self-government. 149 C. 528.
(a) Any municipality may by ordinance adopt an average work week of fifty-six hours for permanent paid fire personnel
as provided in sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive.
(b) The legislative body of such municipality may, by ordinance, or shall, upon
petition of electors of such municipality in number not less than five per cent of the total
number of electors on the last-completed registry list, submit the question of adopting
the provisions of said sections in the fire department of such municipality to a vote of
the electors thereof at the next general election or at a special election or meeting called
for such purpose. Any such petition shall contain the ordinance to be voted upon by the
electors. Such election or meeting shall be called and held, and the vote on the question
canvassed and the result determined and certified, as nearly as may be in accordance
with the provisions of the laws governing the election of civil officers therein. The notice
or warning for such election or meeting shall state that a purpose of such election or
meeting is to ascertain whether or not such municipality shall adopt an average work
week of fifty-six hours for permanent paid fire personnel and that such election or meeting is called under the provisions of this section. The vote on such question shall be
taken by a "YES" and "NO" vote on the voting machine, and the voting machine ballot
label, which shall bear the words "Shall a fifty-six hour work week for permanent paid
fire personnel be adopted?", shall be provided in accordance with the provisions of
section 9-250. If, upon the official determination of the result of such vote, it appears that
a majority of those voting on the question are in favor of the adoption of the provisions of
sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive, said sections shall take effect as to such municipality
no later than ninety days thereafter, provided, when the fiscal year of any such municipality begins within ninety days thereafter, the effective date for such municipality shall
be no later than the first day of the fiscal year next following the expiration of the ninety-
day period.
(1949, S. 427d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 49; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 4; P.A. 86-170, S. 6, 13.)
History: 1965 act deleted obsolete reference to section 7-307, substituting section 7-306; P.A. 86-170 required that
designation on ballot label be in form of question and substituted term "fire personnel" for "firemen".
Does not permit adoption of average work week of fewer than fifty-six hours. 149 C. 528.
The work week for all permanent paid members of the
uniformed firefighter force for municipalities adopting sections 7-303 to 7-306, inclusive, shall be an average work week of not more than fifty-six hours, computed over a
period of one fiscal or calendar year, as the municipality elects; provided, unless otherwise prescribed by regulation or ordinance, any time spent in an emergency in excess
of any regularly assigned or scheduled work week in connection with any actual fire or
conflagration, including time spent going to, working at or returning from any actual
fire, or any other work or duty classified as an act of mercy shall not be included in
computing such average work week.
(1949, S. 428d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 5.)
History: 1965 act deleted obsolete reference to section 7-307, substituting reference to section 7-306.
Must be read in conjunction with section 7-304 and does not permit adoption of average work week of fewer than fifty-
six hours. 149 C. 528. Cited. 196 C. 192, 200.
There shall be no diminution in the weekly earnings of the
employees concerned, nor shall there be any lessening of any of their existing rights
and privileges, as the result of the adoption of the work week provided in sections 7-
303 to 7-306, inclusive.
(1949, S. 429d; February, 1965, P.A. 574, S. 6.)
History: 1965 act deleted obsolete reference to section 7-307, substituting reference to section 7-306.
Cited. 149 C. 527. Cited. 196 C. 192, 200.
Section 7-307 is repealed.
(1949, S. 430d; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 14; 1959, P.A. 247.)
(a) As used in this section, "municipality" shall have the
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