[Adopted 6-18-1985 by Ord. No. 1881 (Ch.
57, Art. VIII, of the 1979 Code)]
There is hereby established a Special Police
Unit within the Division of Police of the Department of Public Safety
of the City of Garfield.
The purposes for which the Special Police Unit
has been established are as follows:
A.
To augment and support the regular police force.
B.
To provide assistance and support to the regular police
force during unusual or emergency circumstances, both anticipated
and unanticipated.
C.
To temporarily or intermittently perform duties similar
to those performed by regular members of the regular police force.
D.
To foster excellent special police services through
a comprehensive training program.
E.
To preserve, maintain and protect the public's health,
safety and welfare.
A.
Members in the Special Police Unit shall consist of
such a number of volunteers and/or appointees in such classes or categories
as may be established from time to time by the City Council and City
Manager.
B.
Members shall be appointed by the City Manager for
a term not to exceed one year, and, except as otherwise provided by
law, such appointment may be revoked at any time without cause or
hearing.
C.
In making such appointments, the City Manager shall
give due consideration to the demographics of the communication and
the need for affirmative action to ensure a meaningful percentage
of minorities represented within the Special Police Unit.
D.
No person may be appointed as a member of the Special
Police Unit unless such person:
(1)
Is a citizen of the United States and a resident of
New Jersey during the term of appointment.
[Amended 2-26-2013 by Ord. No. 2643]
(2)
Is able to read, write and speak the English language
well and intelligently and possesses a high school diploma or its
equivalent.
(3)
Is sound in body and mind and in good health.
(4)
Is of a good moral character.
(5)
Has not been convicted of any offense involving moral
turpitude or dishonesty, or which would make him unfit to perform
the duties of his office.
(6)
Has successfully undergone or completed such testing
or training as may be required by law prior to appointment.
(7)
Has complied with other eligibility requirements as
may be provided by law.
E.
Before any member is appointed, the chief law enforcement
officer of the City of Garfield shall ascertain the eligibility, character,
integrity, psychological fitness and qualifications of such applicant
and shall report these determinations in writing to the City Manager.
F.
Prior to appointment, each applicant for membership
shall have fingerprints taken, which said fingerprints shall be filed
with the Division of State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
A.
All members of the Special Police Unit shall be under
the supervision and direction of the chief law enforcement officer
of the City of Garfield and shall perform the duties of a special
police officer only in the City of Garfield unless in fresh pursuit
of any person pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2A:156-1 et seq.
B.
All members shall comply with the rules and regulations
applicable to the conduct and decorum of the regular police force
of the City of Garfield, where applicable, as well as any rules and
regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of special police
officers established herein or as may hereafter be established by
the City Manager.
C.
There shall be such number of Captains, Lieutenants
and Sergeants as the chief law enforcement officer of the City of
Garfield in his discretion deems necessary for the good order and
discipline of the Special Police Unit. All such positions shall be
appointed by said chief law enforcement officer, subject to the approval
of the City Manager.
D.
The chief law enforcement officer of the City of Garfield
may establish such bylaws or other regulations respecting the organization
of the Special Police Unit, not inconsistent with any provision hereof
or with any provision of applicable law, subject to the approval of
the City Manager.
A.
The following rules and regulations, in addition to
the applicable rules and regulations respecting the conduct and decorum
of the regular police force, shall be applicable to the Special Police
Unit:
(1)
Volunteer special police officers may be deployed
for such number of hours as the chief law enforcement officer determines
necessary, subject to any limitation prescribed by law; provided,
however, that such special police officers may be deployed without
limitation as to hours during periods of emergencies.
(2)
All members shall successfully complete a training
program established by the chief law enforcement officer or such other
applicable training program as may be established by law for each
respective category or special police officer, prior to performing
or commencing their duties as special police officers.
(3)
The carrying or use of firearms by a special police
officer shall be prohibited except as otherwise specifically authorized
by the chief law enforcement officer and then only while on duty during
emergencies or periods of training on the use of firearms. No member
shall be issued a firearm unless such member shall have successfully
completed a course of study on firearms, powers of arrest and criminal
law and procedure established by the chief law enforcement officer
or such other courses or requalification examinations as may be required
by law.
(4)
Each member shall complete such program of continuing
classroom and on-the-job training as may be established by the chief
law enforcement officer or as is otherwise required by law.
(5)
Unless otherwise directed by the chief law enforcement
officer in accordance with law, every special police officer, prior
to the commencement of duty, shall be in uniform, which shall consist
of, but shall not be limited to, a hat and appropriate badges which
shall bear an identification number or name tag and the name of the
City of Garfield, as well as an insignia of a form approved by the
chief law enforcement officer or as otherwise required by law identifying
the officer as a special police officer.
(6)
The chief law enforcement officer may demote, suspend
or recommend the revocation of appointment of any special police officer
violating any rule or regulation applicable to the special police
unit or by reason of disability or disqualification, consistent with
the requirements of fundamental due process in accordance with such
procedures as may be established for such purpose. All recommendations
for revocation of appointment shall be referred to the City Manager
in writing and shall set forth the reasons for such recommendation.
B.
The chief law enforcement officer of the City of Garfield
is hereby authorized to establish such additional rules and regulations
respecting the operation and conduct of the special police unit and
not inconsistent with any provision hereof, or with any provision
of applicable law, subject to the approval of the City Manager.
C.
The chief law enforcement officer of the City of Garfield
is hereby authorized and empowered to issue such orders and directives
as may be necessary to carry out these rules and regulations and all
members of the special police unit shall follow and obey any orders
and directives.
D.
An emergency, as defined herein, may be declared by
the City Manager or the chief law enforcement officer of the City
of Garfield.
E.
Special police officers appointed hereunder shall
not be considered members of the regular police force of the City
of Garfield, and their powers and duties shall cease at the expiration
or revocation of the term for which appointed.
F.
Special police officers shall not be deployed to replace
or substitute regular police officers or as a subterfuge to avoid
hiring regular police officers or in any way to diminish the number
of full-time police officers employed by the City of Garfield; provided,
however, that nothing contained herein is intended nor shall it be
construed to limit or restrict in any way the right of the City of
Garfield to determine manning and staffing levels of the regular police
force based upon a weighing and evaluation of the competing needs
of the City of Garfield and budgetary constraints upon the City.
G.
The special police officers shall be specifically
utilized in the policing and patrolling of the various parks and playgrounds
and school areas of the City of Garfield.
H.
When on duty performing duties and patrolling and
policing the public parks, playgrounds and schools, the special police
shall be paid on an hourly basis in an amount fixed and specified
by the City Manager.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
The highest ranking regular full-time police officer of the
City of Garfield, who is presently known and designated as the "Executive
Officer" of the Police Department.
Any unusual condition caused by any circumstances, including
but not limited to shortages in the personnel of the regular police
force caused by vacancies, sickness, injury or any other reason, where
the health, welfare and safety of the public is endangered.
