Section 70.18 - Department of public safety; creation; director; officers; structure(1) The council may by ordinance create a department of public safety and delegate to it all the power, authority, and duties which may be exercised by a fire department or a police department or both. If the ordinance provides for the combination of existing police and fire entities, it shall provide for a right of referendum and become effective as provided in section 1(4) of chapter II.(2) The department of public safety shall be headed by the director of public safety, who shall be the commanding officer of the department. The president shall nominate and the council appoint the director of public safety. The director of public safety is subject to the direction of the president and council, or, if provided by ordinance adopted under section 8 of chapter V, the village manager.(3) If authorized by ordinance, the director of public safety may employ public safety officers and other personnel. The director of public safety shall direct the police and fire work of the village and be responsible for the enforcement of law and order, the protection of life and property against fire, and the performance of other public services of an emergency nature assigned to the department of public safety.(4) If a department of public safety is established, a reference to the chief of police or the chief of the fire department contained in a state statute or village ordinance shall be considered to refer to the director of public safety.(5) The council may structure the department of public safety so that separate police and fire entities may be continued.Add. 1998, Act 254, Imd. Eff. 7/13/1998 .