Section 56401 - Appointment, compensation and training of police officers(a) The board of commissioners may, subject to the civil service provisions of this act, appoint and fix the number, rank and compensation of the members of the township police force. (b) Subject to the requirements of 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 23 Subch. A (relating to intergovernmental cooperation), the board of commissioners may provide for police services as follows: (1) by municipal police officers under a contract;(2) through the purchase of police services; or(3) by joining or developing a consolidated regional police service.(c) The board of commissioners may remove, suspend or demote a police officer: (1) in accordance with the act of June 15, 1951 (P.L. 586, No. 144), entitled "An act regulating the suspension, removal, furloughing and reinstatement of police officers in boroughs and townships of the first class having police forces of less than three members, and in townships of the second class"; or(2) subject to subdivision (d) of Article VI.(d) The following shall apply:(1) No police officer shall at the same time hold any public office other than constable, health officer or school director of a school district situated within a county of the second class.(2) A police officer who holds the office of school director in a school district situated within a county of the second class pursuant to paragraph (1), whether contracted or otherwise employed by the school district, shall not be permitted to serve as a school police officer, as provided for in section 1302-C of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L. 30, No. 14), known as the Public School Code of 1949.(e) No police officer may participate in a political or election campaign while on duty or in uniform or while using township property other than to exercise the officer's right of suffrage.(f) Except as provided in section 630, the board of commissioners shall promulgate rules and regulations for the organization of the police force.(g) The board of commissioners may assign the chief of police or any other member of the police force to attend training classes offered by the Federal Government, State or county government, and may pay a member's expenses while attending the training classes.1931, June 24, P.L. 1206, art. XIV, § 1401. Amended 1947, April 2, P.L. 46, § 1; 1949, May 27, P.L. 1955, § 30; 2013, Nov. 27, P.L. 1141, No. 99, § 2, imd. effective; 2020, Oct. 29, P.L. 782, No. 96, § 45, effective in 60 days [Dec. 28, 2020].