[Amended 12-1-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-32; 6-2-1999 by Ord. No. 1999-10; 8-2-2000 by Ord. No. 2000-16]
[Amended 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03; 5-2-2012 by Ord. No.
2012-15]
A.
There shall be a Police Department in and for the Township of Florence,
which shall be composed of such officers, full-time police officers
and special law enforcement officers as may be appointed by the Mayor.
There shall be the positions of Chief of Police and Public Safety
Director. However, if the position of Chief of Police is filled, the
position of Public Safety Director shall remain vacant. If the position
of Public Safety Director is filled, then the position of Chief of
Police shall remain vacant. When the position of Public Safety Director
is filled, the Public Safety Director shall be the "appropriate authority"
as provided in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 et seq. When the position of Chief
of Police is filled, the Township Administrator shall be the "appropriate
authority" as provided in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 et seq.
B.
The appropriate authority shall be directly responsible to the Mayor.
[Amended 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03; 5-2-2012 by Ord. No.
2012-15]
When the position of Chief of Police is filled, the Chief of
Police shall be the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality
and shall be the head of the Police Department.
A.
Appointment. The Chief of Police shall be appointed by the Mayor
and shall hold office as provided by law.
B.
Qualifications. The Chief of Police shall be a citizen of the United
States and shall be qualified by education, training and experience.
C.
Powers and duties. The Chief of Police shall, pursuant to policies
established by the appropriate authority:
(1)
Be the executive head of the Police Department and shall be responsible
to the appropriate authority for the efficiency and routine day-to-day
operations of the Department and the supervision of its activities,
including the performance of all functions assigned to the Chief of
Police under any collective bargaining agreements applicable to employees
within the Police Department.
(2)
Be responsible for the observation and enforcement of all laws of
the state and ordinances within the jurisdiction of the Police Department
and shall perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by ordinance
or by directive of the appropriate authority.
(3)
Administer and enforce rules and regulations and special emergency
directives for the disposition and discipline of the Police Department
and its officers and personnel.
(4)
Have, exercise and discharge, as provided by law, the functions,
powers and duties of the police force.
(5)
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other
personnel.
(6)
Delegate any authority that the Chief of Police may deem necessary
for the efficient operation of the force to be exercised under the
direction and supervision of the Chief of Police.
(7)
See that all persons connected with the Department are properly instructed
in their duties and shall give particular attention to the training
and instruction of new members thereof.
(8)
Have control of all records and property of the Police Department
and designate any member of the Department to prepare reports and
keep the records in the manner that the Chief of Police may prescribe,
as well as to take charge of any property coming into the custody
of the Department.
(9)
Furnish to the appropriate authority, in such form as shall be prescribed
by the appropriate authority, complete monthly and yearly reports
on the operation of the Police Department and make such other reports
as may be requested by the appropriate authority.
D.
In the event that the Chief of Police position is not filled, the
Mayor shall appoint the chief law enforcement officer.
[Amended 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03; 5-2-2012 by Ord. No.
2012-15]
When the position of Public Safety Director is filled, the Public
Safety Director will be the head of the Police Department and appointed
by the Mayor or appropriate appointing authority and shall:
A.
Make, administer and enforce rules and regulations for the disposition,
conduct and discipline of the police force.
B.
Establish and enforce appropriate rules and regulations for maintenance,
use and security of property and records of the Department.
C.
Organize, develop, direct, supervise and perform work involved in
the management of the Police Department.
D.
Develop and prepare the Department budget.
E.
Develop operational policy, work programs and budgetary policies.
F.
Evaluate the effectiveness of work programs and procedures of all
units within the Department.
G.
Promote close coordination and planning efforts.
H.
Undertake special studies pertaining to public safety functions.
I.
Establish and maintain helpful and cooperative relations with civic
and business organizations, schools, and court offices and other groups,
police and fire authorities in other jurisdictions, and others interested
in the maintenance of law and order and fire prevention.
J.
Give assignments to staff.
K.
Prepare reports.
L.
Direct the establishment and maintenance of records and files.
M.
Be responsible for the operation of the Police Department pursuant
to policies established by said Public Safety Director and shall be
responsible for the promulgation, updating and/or ratification of
the Rules and Regulations for the Police Department of the Township
of Florence. The Captain of the Police Department and all other police
officers shall be subordinate to the Public Safety Director.
[Amended 7-7-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-8; 4-4-2007 by Ord. No.
2007-03; 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03; 5-2-2012 by Ord. No.
2012-15; 4-15-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-12]
The Police Department of the Township of Florence shall be composed
of the Public Safety Director or Chief of Police (but not both at
the same time); up to three Captains; up to two Lieutenants; up to
six Sergeants; and up to 30 police officers as may be appointed by
the Mayor. It is the purpose of this section to establish limits on
the size of the Police Department, and nothing herein shall require
appointments or promotions to bring the staffing up to the maximum
authorized strength.
[Amended 5-2-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-15]
A.
Each applicant for a position as an officer or member of the Police
Department of the Township of Florence shall:
(1)
Meet the basic requirements for a position as an officer or member
of the Police Department of the Township as provided by law.
(2)
Be more than 18 and less than 36 years of age.
(3)
Be sound in body and of good health sufficient to satisfy the Board
of Trustees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey
that he or she is eligible for membership in the retirement system.
(4)
Be able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently.
(5)
Be of good moral character and must not have been convicted of any
crime involving moral turpitude.
(6)
Satisfactorily serve a probationary period and successfully complete
a police training course as provided by law.
B.
All applicants for the position of police officer, who have qualified
under Department of Personnel rules, shall make written application
to the Chief of Police or Public Safety Director and at the same time
submit such proof as shall be requested with respect to the above
qualifications.
C.
Pursuant
to N.J.S.A. 11A:4-1.3, the Police Department of the Township of Florence
may hire an applicant for an entry level law enforcement position
who has not taken a civil service examination if they have successfully
completed a full basic course for police officers training course
at a school approved and authorized by the New Jersey Police Training
Commission.
[Added 11-3-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-23]
[Amended 5-2-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-15]
A.
Each full-time member of the Police Department shall devote his or
her whole time and services thereto, except that each full-time police
officer appointed to the Police Department of the Township of Florence
may, with the approval of the Township Administrator and subject to
any conditions established by the Township Administrator, pursue other
employment outside of the established duty hours. No outside employment
shall be such that it interferes with or conflicts with the primary
responsibility as a police officer of the Township of Florence.
B.
Although certain hours will be allotted for the performance of regular
tours of duty, officers are considered at all times available for
duty and must act promptly at any time that their services are required,
except when on authorized vacation or medical leave or in the event
of disability.
[Amended 5-2-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-15]
A.
The rights, privileges, powers and duties of the members of the Police
Department, including temporary officers and special law enforcement
officers, shall be those prescribed by the laws of the State of New
Jersey governing municipal police departments generally, by the Charter
and ordinances and resolutions of the Township of Florence, and by
such rules and regulations which may from time to time be established
by the Chief of Police with the approval of the appropriate authority
or the Public Safety Director.
B.
The Police Department shall:
(1)
Preserve the public peace, protect life and liberty, prevent crimes,
detect and arrest offenders against the penal laws and ordinances
effective within the Township, suppress riots, mobs and insurrections,
disperse unlawful or dangerous assemblages and preserve order at all
elections and public meetings and assemblages.
(2)
Administer and enforce laws and ordinances to regulate, direct, control
and restrict the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and
the use of the streets by vehicles and persons to protect the safety
and facilitate the convenience of motorists and pedestrians, and make
and enforce rules and regulations not inconsistent with the ordinances
of the Township for such purposes.
(3)
Remove or cause to be removed all nuisances in the public streets,
parks and other public places of the Township, inspect and observe
all places of public amusement or assemblage and all places of business
requiring any state or municipal license or permit and report thereon
to the appropriate department.
(4)
Respond to all fire alarms and assist the fire company in the protection
of life and property, in regulating traffic, maintaining order and
in enforcing observance of the Fire Prevention Code. The Chief of
the fire company may request the assistance of the police in emergencies.
(5)
Provide for the attendance of its members in court as necessary for
the prosecution and trial of persons charged with crimes and offenses
and cooperate fully with the law enforcement and prosecuting authorities
of federal, state and county governments.
(6)
Operate a training program to maintain and improve the police efficiency
of the members of the Department.
(7)
Subject to the approval of the Township Administrator, make, administer
and enforce rules and regulations for the disposition, conduct and
discipline of the Department.
[Amended 5-2-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-15]
Upon appointment, there shall be furnished to each police officer
a uniform, badge and other necessary equipment, at the expense of
the Township, which shall remain the property of the Township and
which shall be maintained by the officer in a clean and usable condition.
[Amended 5-2-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-15]
The Chief of Police or Public Safety Director shall have the
power to relieve from duty any member of the Police Department for
the violation of any provision of this article or any rule governing
the Police Department until such time as complaint and charge against
such member shall have been disposed of by formal hearing.
[Amended 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03]
A.
The Mayor may, as provided in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., appoint
special law enforcement officers for a term not exceeding one year
and revoke those appointments without cause or hearing.
B.
Creation of position. In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A.
40A:14-146.8 et seq., there is hereby created the position of special
law enforcement officers for the Township of Florence. Each special
law enforcement officer appointed shall be subject to the requirements
of this article and the additional requirements set forth in N.J.S.A.
40A:14-146.8 et seq.
C.
Classification and powers. The classifications of the special law
enforcement officers shall be based upon the duties to be performed
by those officers and are established as follows:
(1)
Class One. Officers of this class are authorized to perform routine
traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties as may be assigned
by the Public Safety Director or, in the absence of the Director,
the Director's designee. The Class One officers are also authorized
to issue summonses for disorderly persons' and petty disorderly persons'
offenses, violations of municipal ordinances and violations of Title
39 of the Revised Statutes. The use of firearms by said Class One
officers is strictly prohibited, and no Class One officer shall be
assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use of a firearm.
(2)
Class Two. Officers of this class are herewith authorized to exercise
full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly
appointed, full-time police officer. They shall be assigned such powers
and duties by the Public Safety Director, or the Director's designee.
The use of a firearm by an officer of this class may be authorized
only after the officer has been fully certified as successfully completing
training as prescribed by the Police Training Commission established
within the Department of Law and Public Safety of the State of New
Jersey.
D.
Rules and regulations. All duly appointed special law enforcement
officers shall be subject to the ordinance of the Township of Florence
and to the rules and regulations governing the Police Department of
the Township of Florence, including, but not limited to, the Standard
Operating Procedures Police Manual of the Township of Florence.
E.
Term of appointment. Special law enforcement officers shall be appointed
by the Mayor for a term not to exceed one year. In no event shall
any appointment carry a term beyond the end of the calendar year of
the year in which said appointment is made.
F.
Limitations on number of special law enforcement officers. The number
of special law enforcement officers employed by the Township of Florence
shall be limited as follows:
(1)
Class One: not more than the number of regular officers employed
by the Township of Florence.
(2)
Class Two: not more than 25% of the number of regular officers employed
by the Township of Florence.
(3)
The establishment of the limitations herein shall serve to provide
maximum numbers only and shall not be interpreted to require the appointment
of any specific number of special law enforcement officers. The number
of special law enforcement officers actually appointed shall be a
management decision made by the Mayor in accordance with the approved
budget.
G.
Residency requirement. No special law enforcement officer shall be
appointed to a position with the Township of Florence who is not a
bona fide resident of the Township of Florence, except that the Mayor
may, but is not required to, waive the residency requirement on a
year-to-year basis in specific cases where the Mayor determines that
it is in the best interest of the Township to grant such a waiver.
Whenever a waiver has been granted by the Mayor, the waiver may be
subject to such conditions as the Mayor may determine.
[Amended 2-1-2012 by Ord. No. 2012-03]
The Mayor may, as provided in N.J.S.A. 40A:9-154.1, appoint
adult school crossing guards for a term not exceeding one year and
revoke those appointments for cause and after a hearing before the
Public Safety Director. An adult school crossing guard shall not be
a member of the Police Department and shall not have the power to
arrest or the right to bear firearms. Every adult school crossing
guard shall be under the supervision and direction of the Police Department
and shall comply with the rules and regulations applicable to the
conduct and decorum of the regular police officers of the Township.
