§ 25-1. Duties of police generally.

It shall be the duty of the police of the city at all times of the day and night, within the city limits, and the officers and members of the police force of the city are hereby empowered to specially preserve the public peace, prevent crime, detect and arrest offenders, suppress riots, mobs and insurrections, disperse unlawful and dangerous assemblages, and assemblages which obstruct the free passage of the public streets, sidewalks and plazas; to protect the rights of person and property, guard the public health; to preserve order at all the public meetings, assemblages, theaters and all places of public amusement or resort; to prevent confusion and regulate the movement of vehicles in the streets, highways and public places of the city; to remove all nuisances in the streets, plazas or highways of the city not otherwise provided for; to arrest all mendicants and beggars and all dangerous and suspicious characters, and all loafers and pimps; to assist, advise and protect strangers and travelers in the public plazas, streets and highways of the city, and to repress and restrain all unlawful and disorderly conduct or practices therein; and to enforce and prevent the violation of this Code and all laws of the state and ordinances of the city.

(Code 1950, § 16-58; Code 1959, § 32-1)