[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.
(7) Habitual use of indecent, profane, harsh or uncivil
language.
(8) Uncleanliness in person or dress.
(11)
Visible effects of alcohol when reporting for
duty or drinking while on duty.
(13)
Drunk off duty while in full or part uniform.
(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.