The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1949-03-17
ORDINANCE NO. 537

ORDINANCE NO. 537
An Ordinance relating TO. Re-
sulatins and Licensing the Bust
ness of Merchant Police, Fixing
Liability for their conduct. De-
timing their Powers and Duties.
and Providing Penalties for Vio-
lation Of this Ordinance.
The City Council of the City
Of kennewick ordains as follows:
Section /. That upon the fill
ing of written petition with the
City Clerk by one or more bust
ness men owning and operating
a business in the City of Kenne-
wick, setting out the necessity
therefor and petitioning the City
Council for permission to organ
ize a merchant police within
the City of Kennewick, the en-
tire expense of which is to be
paid by the petitioners, the City
Council may at their option grant
such permission and issue a COM
mission therefor upon the terms
and conditions as hereinafter set
out.
Section 2. The petition shall
set out the names of all persons
to be employed as merchant po-
lice, together with their ages,
place of residence and an affidav-
it of at least one or more of the
petitioners stating that the affiant
is acquainted with the person or
persons whose appointment is
desired and that such person or
persons are of good moral charac-
ter and of such character and ex-
perience that he or they can safe
ly be trusted with the powers of
police. If at any time
after the commission is granted
and the appointment of merchant
police Hereunder it becomes ne
cessary to appoint additional po-
icemen or to change the person
mel of the merchant police, a pc
tition therefor accompanied by
the above mentioned affidavit
shall be filed with the City Coun-
Gil and such petition must be ap-
proved by the Council before
such change is made. All appli-
cants for appointment as mer-
chant policemen shall before be-
ing appointed appear at the city
police station and have their fin
ger prints taken, a copy Of which
shall be retained by the city po-
lice department.
Section 8. Each commission is
sued hereunder shall be for a
period of not to exceed one year,
expiring on the 3lst day Of De-
cember of the year in which it
is issued unless issued for q
shorter period of time. Each COM
mission may be renewed from
time to time upon a written re-
quest for renewal filed prior to
the last council meeting before
the expiration of the commission,
and upon approval Of the City
Council.
Section 4. Nothing in this ordi-
nance shall be construed as
meaning that any merchant po-
licemen are employees Of the
City of Kennewick and response
bility for payment of any and all
withholding taxes, social securi-
ty taxes and all other taxes shall
be assumed by the persons. firms,
or corporations employing said
merchant policemen.
Section S. Merchant policemen
employed under the terms of this
ordinance shall in addition to
their other duties required Of
them under the terms of their
employment shall have limited po-
lice powers as follows: They may
make arrests of any person or
persons committing crime in
their presence and Immediately
upon making any such arrest
they shall take the person or per-
sons so arrested to the police
station, sign and swear to a
criminal complaint against such
person or persons so arrested and
turn the person or persons go ar
ested over to the regular police
officers of the City of Kennewick
for further proceedings. The ar
resting officer shall spear at the
time and place set or trial or
hearing on the complaint and
give their testimony before the
Police Judge or other court try.
ing the case, without charge fol
fees. r..
Section 8. All appointments Of
such merchant policemen shall
first be submitted to the City
Council for approval and upor
approval by the City Council, thcy
shall be given a badge approved
by the City Council, such badge
to be furnished at the expens,
Of the person 50 employed or b!