[Adopted 4-16-1985 by Ord. No. 85-57]
A.
There is hereby created and established in the Township
of Stafford, a police department, which shall be known as the Stafford
Township Police Department. The Police Department is established in
accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 et seq.
B.
The Mayor and Township Council shall provide for the
appointment of such members, officers and personnel as they shall
deem necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the Police
Department. The Mayor and governing body shall determine the terms
of office and compensation and prescribe the powers, functions and
duties of all such members, officers and personnel as the Mayor and
Township Council deem necessary for the efficient government of the
force.
A.
The Mayor shall be designated the liaison to the Police
Department and shall be known as the “Police Commissioner.”
[Amended 4-17-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-21]
B.
Appropriate authority.
[Amended 12-17-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-98]
(1)
In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118,
the Township Council shall designate an appropriate authority to whom
the Chief of Police will be directly responsible. The Township Administrator
shall act as the appropriate authority.
(2)
The appropriate authority shall be responsible to develop appropriate rules and regulations for the government of the police force and the discipline of its members in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118. Said rules and regulations shall be adopted in accordance with § 41-6A of the Township Code.
(3)
The appropriate authority shall have such duties responsibilities
as are set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118.
[Amended 2-4-1986 by Ord. No. 86-03; 4-21-1987 by Ord. No. 87-44; 2-15-1994 by Ord. No. 94-25; 12-17-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-98; 8-4-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-39; 7-16-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-08]
There are hereby created the following positions within the
Police Department for the Township of Stafford and the respective
duties of each position:
A.
Chief of Police. The Chief of Police shall be the head of the police
force, and he/she shall be directly responsible to the appropriate
authority for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operations of
the Police Department. The Chief of Police shall, pursuant to the
policies established by the appropriate authority:
(1)
Administer and enforce rules and regulations and special emergency
directives for the disposition and discipline of the force and its
officers and personnel.
(2)
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of
the force.
(3)
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other
personnel.
(4)
Delegate such of his authority as he/she may deem necessary for the
efficient operation of the force, to be exercised under his/her direction
and supervision.
(5)
Report at least monthly to the appropriate authority, in such form
as shall be prescribed by the appropriate authority, on the operation
of the force during the preceding month, and make such other reports
as may be requested by such authority.
(6)
Report immediately to the appropriate authority within 48 hours and
file a written report with the appropriate authority within five days
in regard to:
(a)
Any accident, motor vehicle or otherwise, in which a member
of the Stafford Township Police Department is involved while such
member is acting in his official capacity.
(b)
Any investigation being conducted by any federal, state, county
or municipal agency and which concerns a member of the Stafford Township
Police Department.
(c)
Any disciplinary action which the Chief of Police or his/her
subordinates have taken against any subordinate officer or member
of the Stafford Township Police Department.
B.
Captain. The Captain holds an administrative position falling directly
under the supervision of the Chief of Police. The Captain shall be
responsible for carrying out the orders of the Chief of Police in
regard to the general administrative operation and efficiency of the
Police Department. The Captain shall perform such other duties as
are directed by the Chief of Police. He/She shall assist the Chief
of Police in formulating and implementing policy, regulations, goals
and objectives of the Police Department.
C.
Lieutenant. The Lieutenant holds an administrative supervisory position
under the supervision of his superiors. The Lieutenant assists the
Chief of Police and Captain in formulating and implementing policy,
regulations, goals and objectives of the Police Department. He/She
inspects personnel and equipment to ensure that both meet Department
standards and performs such other duties as are directed by his/her
superiors.
D.
Sergeant. The Sergeant is responsible for supervising police work,
directing and assisting in the direction of, or participating in the
activities of, the Police Department on an assigned shift. He/She
performs those tasks, which are delegated to him her by his/her superiors.
E.
Patrolman. The patrolman is responsible for the general law enforcement
work involved in the protection of life and property through the enforcement
of laws and related preventative investigative work. A patrolman shall
perform all duties which are assigned to him/her by his/her superior
officers.
A.
Appointment. All police officers, without regard to
rank, shall be appointed by the Township Council by resolution. All
promotions within the Department shall be made by the Township Council
by resolution.
B.
Term of office. The term of office for any police
officer appointed by the Township Council shall be indeterminate and
continuous during good behavior and efficiency. No permanent officer
of the Police Department shall be removed from his office, employment
or position for political reasons or for any cause other than incapacity,
misconduct or disobedience of the rules and regulations of the Police
Department. No member of the Police Department can be removed from
office except by the Township Council.
C.
Qualifications. No individual shall be appointed as
a police officer, regardless of rank, unless he:
(1)
Is a citizen of the United States.
(2)
Is sound of body and of good health sufficient to
satisfy the Board of Trustees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement
System of New Jersey as to his eligibility for membership in the retirement
system.
(3)
Is able to read, write and speak the English language
well and intelligently.
(4)
Is of good moral character and has not been convicted
of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
(5)
Meets such other requirements as are established in
the police rules and regulations.
The following positions are hereby established
within the Stafford Township Police Department. The positions being
established are civilian in character, and the persons being appointed
to these positions do not have any authority to perform any of the
duties of a police officer.
A.
Police records clerk. There is hereby established
the position of police records clerk for the Stafford Township Police
Department. The police records clerk shall be appointed by the Township
Council. The police records clerk shall be responsible for varied
clerical work, typing of correspondence and reports, the processing
and preparation of all files and reports and to act as custodian of
the records for the Police Department. The police records clerk shall
also perform such other duties as are required by the Chief of Police.
B.
Police mechanic. There is hereby created the position
of police mechanic for the Police Department. The police mechanic
shall be appointed by the Township Council, and his duties shall be
to maintain and service the various vehicles and equipment utilized
by the Stafford Township Police Department.
C.
Police matron. There is hereby established the position
of police matron for the Stafford Township Police Department. The
police matron shall be appointed by the Township Council. The duties
of the police matron shall include the processing and preparation
of preliminary reports, fulfilling the duties of dispatcher and the
processing of female prisoners, as well as such other duties as are
prescribed by the Chief of Police.
D.
Police chaplain. There is hereby created the position
of police chaplain. The police chaplain shall be appointed by the
Township Council. Any person appointed as police chaplain shall be
an ordained clergyman in good standing in the religious body from
which he is selected. The police chaplain shall be considered a member
of the Stafford Township Police Department without rank.
F.
Chief dispatcher. There is hereby established the
position of chief dispatcher for the Stafford Township Police Department.
The chief dispatcher shall be appointed by the Township Council. The
chief dispatcher shall supervise the police dispatchers to ensure
an accurate and orderly communication process and the scheduling of
police dispatch personnel. She shall perform those tasks which are
delegated to her by superiors.
G.
Police dispatcher. There is hereby created the position
of police dispatcher in the Stafford Township Police Department. The
police dispatcher, under direction, shall receive and relay messages
to police patrol vehicles or to other concerned personnel and, in
addition, may operate a teletype machine and a computer terminal for
transmitting and receiving all teletype messages. The police dispatcher
may be required to perform clerical work of a varied nature and may
be required to search prisoners or make security checks. The police
dispatcher shall be appointed by the Township Council.
H.
School crossing guard. There is hereby created the
position of school crossing guard. The school crossing guard shall
be appointed for a term not exceeding one year by the Mayor and Township
Council. To be appointed to the position of school crossing guard,
an individual must meet the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-154.1.
The school crossing guards shall be under the supervision and direction
of the Chief of Police. School crossing guards shall receive training
in accordance with the requirements of N.J.S.A. 40A:9-154.2. A school
crossing guard shall be responsible for the control and direction
of vehicular and pedestrian traffic during those time periods of a
school day when it is necessary to control traffic or during any special
event or program involving pedestrian crossing whenever it is deemed
to be in the best interest of public safety.
A.
Rules and regulations for the efficient operation
of the Police Department, the government of the police force and for
the discipline of its members shall be recommended by the appropriate
authority and submitted to the Township Council for adoption by resolution.
A copy of any such police regulations adopted by the Township Council
shall be provided to all members of the Police Department. The rules
and regulations may be amended at any time by the Township Council
by the adoption of a resolution setting forth any amendments or additions
to the police rules and regulations. Whenever such amendments or additions
to the police rules and regulations are adopted by the Township Council,
copies of such amendments or additions shall be supplied to all members
of the Police Department.
[Amended 12-17-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-98]
B.
Whenever there is a conflict between the provisions
of the rules and regulations of the Police Department and this article,
the provisions of this article shall control.
Nothing contained within this article shall:
A.
Prevent the appointment by the Township Council of
committees or commissions to conduct investigations of the operation
of the police force and to delegate to such committees or commissions
such powers of inquiry as the Township Council deems necessary.
B.
Prevent the Township Council from conducting a hearing
or investigation authorized by law.
C.
Prevent the appropriate authority from examining,
at any time, the operations of the police force or the performance
of any officer or member thereof.
[Amended 12-17-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-98]
D.
Infringe on or limit the power of the appropriate
authority to act to provide for the health, safety or welfare of the
municipality in an emergency situation through special emergency directives.
[Amended 12-17-2002 by Ord. No. 2002-98]
