[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Bethlehem 4-7-1983
as Ord. No. 209-1-83. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby created in the Township of Bethlehem a Police Department
which shall consist of a Chief of Police and police officers as the Township
Committee may from time to time by resolution appoint.
Duties of the members of the Police Department shall be those prescribed
by the laws of the State of New Jersey, the ordinances of the Township of
Bethlehem and the rules and regulations which may from time to time be established
by the Township Committee or Board of Police.
No person shall be appointed a member of the Police Department unless
he/she has the following qualifications:[1]
A.
He/she is a citizen of the United States.
B.
He/she is a resident of the State of New Jersey at the
time of his/her appointment.
C.
He/she is 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 as to his/her eligibility for membership in said retirement
system.
D.
He/she is able to read, write and speak the English language
well and intelligently.
E.
He/she is of good moral character and has not been convicted
of any criminal offense involving moral turpitude.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122.
The Township Committee of the Township of Bethlehem shall be constituted
and known as the "Board of Police of the Township of Bethlehem," and said
Board of Police, as so constituted, shall possess and exercise full authority
and establish rules and regulations for the government and efficient working
of the Police Department, and the Mayor of the Township of Bethlehem, who
shall be the Chairman of the Board of Police, shall issue and enforce said
rules, regulations, instructions and orders as may be deemed proper for the
government and control of the Police Department and shall issue such public
notices as said Board of Police may deem necessary to secure the greatest
possible protection to the person and property of the citizens of the Township
of Bethlehem.
The Chief of Police shall be the head of the Police Department and he
shall be directly responsible to the Board of Police for the efficiency and
routine day-to-day operations thereof and he shall, pursuant to policies established
by the Board of Police:
A.
Administer and enforce rules and regulations and special
emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the force and its
officers and personnel.
B.
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and
duties of the force.
C.
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all its subordinates
and personnel.
D.
Delegate such authority as may be deemed necessary for
the efficient operation of the force to be exercised under his/her direction
and supervision.
E.
Report, at least monthly, to the Board of Police in such
form as shall be prescribed by such Board on the operation of the force during
the preceding month and make such other reports as may be requested by the
Board of Police.
A.
A police officer of the Township of Bethlehem Police
Department shall be deemed to be a probationary employee for the first six
months of his/her appointment, during which time he/she may be terminated
without cause or hearing. Upon satisfactory completion of six months of employment,
the police officer shall be deemed to be a permanent member of the Bethlehem
Township Police Department.
B.
Except as otherwise provided by law, no permanent employee
or officer of the Bethlehem Township Police Department or force shall be removed
from office for political reasons or for any cause other than incapacity,
misconduct or disobedience of the rules and regulations established for the
government of the Police Department and force, nor shall such member or officer
be suspended, removed, fined or reduced in rank from or in office, employment
or position therein, except for just cause as herein provided and only upon
a written complaint setting forth the charge or charges against such member
or officer.
Members of the Police Department shall be faithful and indulgent in
preserving the public peace and preventing assault, breaches of peace and
all crimes about to be committed, in detecting and arresting all offenders
against any law of the State of New Jersey, any ordinance of the township
or the Board of Health and protecting the rights of persons and property,
maintaining decorum and morality in the public streets and places of resort
and in public assemblages and in rendering timely and efficient aid and protection
in all cases.
Any member of the Police Department shall be subject to reprimand, suspension
or dismissal, according to the nature and aggravation of his/her offense,
for any of the following causes:
A.
Leaving assignment of duty without just cause.
B.
Incompetency, lack of energy and incapacity, mentally
or physically.
C.
Neglect of duty.
D.
Violation of any criminal law.
E.
Conduct not becoming an officer.
F.
Conduct subversive of good order and the discipline of
the force.
G.
Failure to properly patrol assignment of duty.
