Whenever any words and phrases are used in this
article, the meaning respectively ascribed to them in N.J.S.A. 40:A:14-146.9
shall be deemed to apply to such words and phrases used herein.
There is hereby established the position of
Special Law Enforcement Officer in and for the Township of Brick.
Before any special law enforcement officer is
appointed, the Chief of Police shall ascertain the eligibility and
qualifications of the applicant and report these determinations, in
writing, to the Mayor.
Special law enforcement officers may be appointed
by the Mayor for terms not to exceed one year, and the appointments
may be revoked for cause, after adequate hearing, unless the appointment
is for four months or less, in which event the appointment may be
revoked without cause or hearing. Nothing herein shall be construed
to require reappointment upon the expiration of the term. The special
law enforcement officers so appointed shall not be members of the
police force of the Township, and their powers and duties shall cease
at the expiration of the term for which appointed.
A.
No person may be appointed as a special law enforcement
officer, unless the person:
(1)
Is a resident of this state during the term of appointment;
(2)
Is able to read, write and speak the English language
well and intelligently and has a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(3)
Is sound in body and of good health;
(4)
Is of good moral character;
(5)
Has not been convicted of any criminal offense involving
moral turpitude; and
(6)
Has successfully undergone the same psychological
testing that is required of all full-time police officers in the Township
or, with regard to a special law enforcement officer hired for a seasonal
period which required psychological testing of its full-time police
officers, has successfully undergone a program of psychological testing
approved by the Police Training Commission established in the Department
of Public Safety, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:17B-70.
B.
Every applicant for the position of Special Law Enforcement
Officer shall have fingerprints taken, which fingerprints shall be
filed with the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
C.
No person shall be appointed to serve as a special
law enforcement officer if that person serves as a special law enforcement
officer in another municipality; nor shall any permanent, regularly
appointed full-time police officer of any other municipality in this
state be appointed as a special law enforcement officer. No public
official with responsibility for setting law enforcement policy or
exercising authority over the budget of any municipality in this state,
or responsible for the supervision of the Police Department of a municipality
in this state, shall be appointed as a special law enforcement officer.
D.
Any person who at any time prior to appointment had
served as a duly qualified, fully trained, full-time officer in any
municipality in this state and who is separated from that prior service
and in good standing shall be eligible to serve as a special law enforcement
officer consistent with the guidelines promulgated by the Police Training
Commission. If the Police Training Commission waives the training
requirements which are required by statute, the Mayor, if he or she
chooses, may appoint such person as a special law enforcement officer.
No person may commence his or her duties as
a special law enforcement officer unless he or she has successfully
completed the training course and certification requirements of N.J.S.A.
40A:14-146.11, unless such training requirements have been waived
by the Police Training Commission.
Officers of Class One shall be authorized to
perform routine traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties.
Class One officers shall have the power 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 a firearm by an officer of this class shall be strictly prohibited,
and no Class One officer shall be assigned any duties which may require
the carrying or use of a firearm.
Every special law enforcement officer prior
to the commencement of duties shall be furnished with a uniform which
shall identify the officer's function. The uniform shall include,
but not be limited to, a hat and appropriate badges which shall bear
an identification number or name tag and the name of the Township
of Brick. The uniform shall also include an insignia issued by the
Police Training Commission which clearly indicates the officer's status
as a special law enforcement officer and the type of certification
issued by the Commission. All special law enforcement officers, prior
to the commencement of duties, shall be in uniform properly displaying
the appropriate insignia.
Whenever a special law enforcement officer's
appointment is revoked or a special law enforcement officer is not
reappointed upon the expiration of the term, the special law enforcement
officer shall return to the officer in charge of the station house
all Township-issued uniforms, badges and equipment within 15 days
of the revocation or expiration of term.
The special law enforcement officers shall carry
and return firearms pursuant to the guidelines established in N.J.S.A.
40A:14-146.14b.
Special law enforcement officers shall comply
with the rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum
of the permanent, regularly appointed police officers of the Township,
as well as any rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and
decorum of special law enforcement officers.
A special law enforcement officer shall be under the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police and shall perform his or her duties only in the Township unless in fresh pursuit of any person pursuant to Chapter 156 of Title 2A of the New Jersey statutes.
Special law enforcement officers may be employed
only to assist the Township law enforcement unit, but may not be employed
to replace or substitute for full-time regular police officers or
in any ways diminish the number of full-time officers employed by
the Township.
[Amended 5-20-2014 by Ord. No. 10-14]
The number of Class One special law enforcement
officers shall not exceed 20.
