Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ Formation and Rank

[Amended 3-23-2010 by Ord. No. 961]

Composition. The Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department shall consist of the following personnel to be appointed to these positions by the Mayor and confirmed by the Borough Council in accordance with § 46-6:

[Amended 6-26-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-07]

(1)

Not more than one Chief of Police.

(2)

Not more than one Captain.

(3)

Not more than one Lieutenant.

(4)

Not more than six Sergeants.

(5)

Not more than nine patrol officers.

Vacancies. Designation of the foregoing members shall not make appointment thereto at any time mandatory, and vacancies therein may occur from time to time.

Review of Table of Organization. There shall be review of the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department Table of Organization at least every two years by the Chief of Police, Police Commissioners and Municipal Attorney to ensure that it meets the needs of the Borough, its residents, businesses and visitors and is in compliance with all relevant statutes and judicial decisions. Failure to conduct such a review shall not render this section invalid.

Compensation. The compensation for each member of the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department shall be set forth in the annual Salary Ordinance and the implementing salary resolution.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 53, Salaries.

Duties. The duties and responsibilities of the members of the Police Department are set forth in the "Police Department of the Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus Manual of Rules and Regulations," dated March 2003, as adopted pursuant to § 46-20 herein.

[Amended 11-25-2014 by Ord. No. 1033; 3-16-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-43]

Powers and duties. The Borough shall appoint a Chief of Police who shall have all of the powers set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 and who shall be directly responsible to the appropriate authority for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operations of the Police Department.

Appointment.

(1)

Goals. The Borough of Ho-Ho-Kus desires to promote the most qualified candidates to the rank of Chief of Police. This section establishes the eligibility requirements and the process for promotion to such rank. The promotion process shall be on the basis of merit, experience/seniority, education, military service, demonstrated ability, and oral examinations as noted herein. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-129, promotion of any officer shall be made from the membership of the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department. In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, promotion to the position of the Chief of Police shall be made by the Mayor with the consent and approval of the governing body utilizing the process set forth below.

(2)

Eligibility requirements. For promotion to Chief of Police, no person shall be eligible for such promotion unless he or she:

(a)

Shall have served, in the aggregate, for at least three years as a full-time Captain, Lieutenant, and/or Sergeant for the Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department as of the announced date of intended appointment; and

(b)

Shall have met or exceeded all Ho-Ho-Kus Police Department performance standards in his or her three most recent annual performance evaluations conducted by his or her superiors.

Process.

(1)

In creating a list of eligible candidates for promotion to Chief of Police, the governing body shall score/rank as each such candidate as follows:

(a)

Oral examination. At least 20 calendar days before the examination, the governing body, or their designee, shall announce the date, time and location of the oral examination. The Borough may enter into a contract with the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP), or other organization which provides oral testing services at the Borough's sole discretion, to develop, conduct and grade the oral examination. The governing body may alternatively approve the use of an oral examination which is prepared, but not graded, by NJSACOP or such other organization. The questions may be based upon police practices, police and investigative procedures, supervisory and administrative principles, New Jersey criminal law, report writing, search and seizure issues, New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines and Directives, legal aspects and requirements for police work, and such other criteria as determined by the NJSACOP, or as determined by the governing body. Eligible candidates who are scheduled to work during the examination will be excused from duty to take the examination. The oral test shall constitute 40% of the overall total score for each eligible candidate, based on a test that contains a maximum value of 100 points. For example, a candidate who receives 70 points out of the total of 100 possible total points for the written test shall receive 28 points towards the overall total score (70 points x 40% = 28 points). In advance of such oral test, the minimum threshold/score required to be eligible for promotion shall be established by the governing body, or its designee, and such minimum threshold/score shall be communicated, in writing, to all eligible candidates for promotion prior to their taking said test. Only those candidates who achieve such minimum score shall be eligible to continue forward in the promotion process for promotion to Chief of Police.

(b)

Each eligible candidate shall thereafter be interviewed by an interview panel comprised of the Borough's Public Safety Committee, or its designees, and the Borough Administrative Officer ("interview panel"). All candidates so interviewed by said interview panel shall be asked the same questions, and the score accorded to each candidate shall be arrived at by calculating the average of the scores of all said interview panel members. Alternatively, the Borough may use NJSACOP or other similar organization to conduct the oral interviews. The results of such oral interview by said interview panel, and its consideration of the candidate's past performance based upon evaluations conducted during the preceding three years, shall constitute 40% of the overall total score for each eligible candidate based on the average score of all said interview panel members of such oral interview. The total possible points for this oral interview shall be 100 points. For example, a candidate who receives a total of 90 points for this oral interview shall receive 36 points towards his/her overall total score (90 points x 40% = 36 points).

(c)

Each eligible candidate shall then be evaluated by the governing body. The results of such evaluation by the governing body shall constitute 20% of the overall total score for each eligible candidate based at the average score of the governing body members. The total possible score for this evaluation shall be 100 points. For example, a candidate who receives a total of 80 points for this evaluation shall receive 16 points toward his/her overall total score (80 points x 20% = 16 points).

Appeal.

(1)

Any appeal of the promotional process other than for the reasons set forth in Subsection D(1)(a) and (b) hereinbelow must be filed within 10 days of the posting of ranking of candidates, and failing same, such right of appeal shall be deemed waived. Said appeal must contain the reason(s) or justification(s) for an appeal and must be submitted to the Mayor and the appropriate authority.

(a)

Review and retabulation of the scored elements of the selection process.

(b)

Review of any evaluation or internal document that was used in the selection process related to the applicant.

(2)

Any appeal, for reasons other than those specified in Subsection D(1)(a) and (b) above, must be filed, in writing, by a candidate with the Mayor and the appropriate authority, within 15 days of the posting of the ranking of candidates, and failing same, such right of appeal shall be deemed waived. Any such appeal may, in its sole discretion of the Mayor and governing body, allow the candidate to be reevaluated, or take other action it deems appropriate.

Eligible list duration. A ranked list of eligible candidates for promotion to Chief of Police shall be valid for one year.