DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Columbus City Codes tit. 2, ch. 217

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 217.01 Department of public safety established.

217.01 - Department of public safety established. There is established a department of public safety consisting of a director of public safety, a deputy director of public safety, the division of support services, the division of fire and the division of police. The department shall perform all lawful functions as may be directed by the mayor or ordinance of council. (Ord. 154-84; Ord. 2610-03 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 217.02 Duties of the director and deputy director.

217.02 - Duties of the director and deputy director. The director of public safety shall be appointed by the mayor and serve at the pleasure of the mayor with a salary fixed by ordinance of council. The director of public safety shall have all powers and duties connected with and incident to the appointment, regulation and government of the department of public safety. The deputy director of public safety shall serve in the absence of the director. (Ord. 154-84.)

Columbus City Codes § 217.03 Division of support services.

217.03 - Division of support services. The division of support services is established as a division of the department of public safety. The administrative head of the division shall be the support services administrator. The division shall have as its primary duty the management of the communications section. (Ord. 154-84; Ord. 2610-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 0768-2024, § 2, 3-18-2024)

Columbus City Codes § 217.04 Division of fire.

217.04 - Division of fire. The division of fire is established as a division of the department of public safety and shall consist of a chief of fire and such other officers, firefighters and employees as may be provided by ordinance of council. Under the direction of the director of public safety, the chief of fire shall have control of the stationing and transfer of all firefighters and other officers and employees constituting the division. (Ord. 154-84.)

Columbus City Codes § 217.05 Division of police.

217.05 - Division of police. The division of police is established as a division of the department of public safety and shall consist of a chief of police and such police officers and employees as may be provided by ordinance of council. Under the direction of the director of public safety, the chief of police shall have control of all police stations and substations, and of the stationing and transfer of all police officers and other employees constituting the division. (Ord. 154-84.)

Columbus City Codes § 217.051 Prohibited Law Enforcement Equipment.

217.051 - Prohibited Law Enforcement Equipment. The acquisition and/or possession of the following law enforcement equipment, for use by the division of police or any other City entity, is prohibited: (A) Tracked armored vehicles, or any armored vehicle that utilizes a tracked system instead of wheels for forward motion; (B) Aircraft, vehicles, or watercraft upon which any weapon is mounted; (C) Firearms of .50 caliber or higher; (D) Ammunition of .50 caliber or higher; (E) Grenade launchers, or any firearm or firearm accessory designed to repeatedly launch military-grade high-explosive projectiles. This does not include launchers designed specifically to deploy less-lethal control agents or kinetic projectiles; (F) Bayonets; (G) Camouflage uniforms; (H) Human powered fixed wing aircraft; (I) Riot batons, or any non-expandable baton of length greater than twenty four (24) inches; and (J) Signal blockers, or any device the purpose of which is to interfere with communication by mobile devices. (Ord. No. 1500-2020, § 2, 7-27-2020; Ord. No. 2103-2020, § 1, 9-14-2020; Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT2ADCO_CH217DEPUSAFetched: 10/27/2026