The statuary powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Ashland Police and Fire Commission are significant. The Commission has the authority to:
- Appoint, suspend, or remove the chief of the police department and the chief of the fire department
- Approve all appointments made by the police chief and fire chief, including the promotion of subordinate
- Approve competitive examinations used to judge suitability for appointment of subordinates
- Approve each list of individuals determined to be eligible for appointment
- Suspend the chief of a department or subordinates pending the filing and hearing of charges against them
- Initiate charges against the chief of a department of any subordinate
- Hear charges filed by the chief of a department or a subordinate, make findings and determinations, and impose penalties
- Hear appeals of disciplinary actions initiated by the chief of a department against any subordinate
