Highland Boards & Commissions – Police Commission

The Town Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners is comprised of a panel of five persons, appointed by the Town Council. They serve for a term of three years and at the pleasure of the appointing authority. No more than three members may be of the same political party.

The Town Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners is charged with the management and administration of the Department of Police. It is the appointing authority for the department, appointing its civilian and sworn members, “subject to the qualifications for employment determined by the board and approved by the legislative body”. It also names the Chief, “subject to the qualifications for employment determined by the board and approved by the legislative body” as well. Once hired, decisions to promote and demote are the province of the Town Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners, as by law, it is the safety board for the purposes of discipline. 

Further, the Town Board of Metropolitan Police Commissioners is charged with forming and promulgating general rules and regulations for the government and discipline of the police department and may make special and general orders to the department through the police chief, who is defined at law as the executive head of the department (IC 36-8-9-4(d).) Appropriation and budgetary authority as well as matters dealing with compensation remains with the Town Council as the unit’s fiscal body.