[Amended 5-11-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-08; 10-31-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-12]
No member of the Police Department and no special law enforcement officer shall at any time while holding office or appointment under the authority of this chapter:
A. 
Violate any criminal law of the United States or of the State of New Jersey or any ordinance of the Township.
B. 
Engage in conduct unbecoming a police officer.
C. 
Engage in conduct in a manner subversive to good order and discipline of the Police Department.
D. 
Engage in conduct in a manner disrespectful to a superior.
E. 
Be absent from a post of duty without having obtained prior leave from his superior officer, except in case of emergency.
F. 
Be absent from the Township, except when off duty or on vacation pursuant to order, without having obtained prior written leave; provided, however, that this regulation shall apply to special police officers only while assigned to active duty.
G. 
Refuse to perform any of the duties of the office or evade the performance of such duties or any of them, whether on patrol or otherwise, and whether or not in uniform; provided, however, that this regulation shall apply to special police officers only while assigned to active duty.
H. 
Contract any debts or other financial obligations without reasonable expectation of being able to pay or discharge the same when due.
I. 
Circulate petitions, sell tickets, solicit contributions or advertising, hold any political office or be a candidate for such office or engage in any other form of political activity.
J. 
Wear on his or her uniform or display as in indicia of his or her status as a police officer any designation of rank, title or position except as specifically set forth in § 75-5A(1).
[Amended 5-11-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-08; 10-31-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-12]
No member of the Police Department shall be removed from office, suspended, reduced in rank or subject to other penalty except for just cause, as hereinbefore provided, and then only after a hearing upon the charge or charges of the cause of the complaint preferred against such member, which charge or charges shall be submitted, investigated, heard and disposed of in the following manner:
A. 
All charges preferred against a member of the Police Department shall be in writing and signed by the person making the same and shall be delivered to the Public Safety Director and the officer in charge.
B. 
The Director, upon receiving such charges, shall forthwith investigate the same and, if such charges are found to be true, may impose upon the offender punishment consisting of a warning, reprimand or suspension from duty without pay for a period not to exceed five days. The Police Director shall inform the Township Committee, in writing, of the imposition of any such penalty within 24 hours thereof.
[Amended 6-10-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-02]
C. 
If the Police Director shall determine that any charges are true but that the severity of the offense warrants a greater punishment than that which he is empowered to impose, he shall transmit such charges to the Township Committee. Upon receipt of such charges the Township Committee shall promptly cause the same to be served upon the accused, with not less than 15 days' written notice to appear before the Township Committee of the Township for a hearing upon such charges. At the time and place fixed for such hearing, the Township Committee shall receive evidence in support of the charges and shall afford to the accused an opportunity to be heard, to cross-examine witnesses appearing in support of the charges, to present evidence on his own behalf, to be represented by counsel and, in general, shall permit the accused every opportunity to make his defense. If upon conclusion of the hearing the Township Committee shall determine that the charges have been established, it shall, in its discretion, remove the offender from office or reduce the offender in rank or suspend the offender without pay for a period not to exceed six months.
[Amended 6-10-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-02]
D. 
Nothing contained herein shall deprive any member of the Police Department of any right of appeal accorded by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
E. 
In the event of a discrepancy between these standards and the collective bargaining agreement, the collective bargaining agreement shall prevail.
[Amended 5-11-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-08; 6-10-2010 by Ord. No. 2010-02]
A. 
The following list of offenses shall serve as guidelines for the Police Director and the Township Committee in imposing appropriate penalties but shall not in any way limit the penalties which may be imposed, consistent with other provisions of this chapter, or the nature of offenses for which penalties may be imposed:
(1) 
Associating with known habitual criminals.
(2) 
Quarreling or fighting among members of the Department.
(3) 
Using language or conducting oneself in a manner which is rude or insulting to the public.
(4) 
Dishonorably failing to pay just debts.
(5) 
Immoral conduct.
(6) 
Soliciting gratuities.
(7) 
Habitual use of indecent, profane, harsh or uncivil language.
(8) 
Uncleanliness in person or dress.
(9) 
Conviction of a crime.
(10) 
Absence without leave.
(11) 
Visible effects of alcohol when reporting for duty or drinking while on duty.
(12) 
Drunk on duty.
(13) 
Drunk off duty while in full or part uniform.
(14) 
Unexcused tardiness.
(15) 
Refusal to obey proper orders from superior officer.
(16) 
Cowardice in the face of duty.
(17) 
Incompetency to perform duties of office.
(18) 
Failure to comply with proper orders or directives.
(19) 
Failure to take police action when necessary and/or failure to submit report of same.
(20) 
Failure to properly care for or loss of assigned equipment or failure to report damage to equipment.
(21) 
Imparting confidential police information or communicating departmental affairs to unauthorized persons.
(22) 
Falsifying any report or removing any departmental records without authorization.
(23) 
Insubordination to superior officer.
(24) 
Failure to properly supervise subordinates or to prefer disciplinary charges or to take other disciplinary action, or failure to properly fulfill the duties of a superior officer.
(25) 
Leaving keys in unattended police vehicle.
(26) 
Using profane or insulting language to another officer.
(27) 
Failure to respond to radio call or leaving police vehicle without advising the desk officer.
(28) 
Leaving Township limits while on duty, except on official business or with authorization.
(29) 
Conducting personal business while on duty.
(30) 
Allowing unauthorized persons in police vehicles.
(31) 
Failure to properly carry out any investigations, assignments or other duties assigned to officer.
(32) 
Improper use of sick leave.
(33) 
Failure to carry proper identification at all times unless specifically required not to.
(34) 
Failure to follow departmental procedures for the handling of evidence, personal effects or other property.
(35) 
Failure to report as witness or complainant in any court proceeding when duly notified, or failure to appear in court in full uniform when specifically required to do so.
(36) 
Failure to maintain proper notebook as supplied by Township or the proper procedures for its handling.
(37) 
Failure to have the permission of the Police Director for the holding of outside work, or allowing outside work to hold preference over police duties.