§ 7-5. Authority to request state police and military forces; when proclamation of martial law may be recommended to governor.

If, in the sound discretion of the mayor, it shall appear that the emergency is or that the threatened emergency is likely to be of such proportions that the means available to the town to maintain law and order are insufficient for such purpose, the mayor shall, promptly and by the most expeditious means of communication, inform the governor of the situation and request that such necessary police or military forces of the state be provided promptly; and if, during an actual state of emergency, the mayor shall find that the civil courts having jurisdiction within the town are unable to perform their lawful duties and that, by reason of widespread lawlessness, writs and other processes cannot be served or executed in the town, the mayor shall inform the governor of such findings and may recommend to the governor that a state of martial law be proclaimed to exist within the town.

(Code 1973, § 6-5)