Except as otherwise provided by law, no person
shall be appointed as a member of the Police Department and force
unless he:
A.
Is a citizen of the United States and a resident of
New Jersey.
B.
Is able to read, write and speak the English language
well and intelligently.
C.
Is of good moral character and has not been convicted
of any criminal offense.
D.
Possesses a high school diploma or its equivalent.
E.
Possesses a valid New Jersey driver's license.
F.
Is no less than 18 nor more than 35 years of age.
All new police officers and civilian employees,
before their assignment to duty and prior to their promotion to higher
ranks, shall be required to take an oath of office as follows: "I
(name of police officer or employee) do solemnly swear I will support
the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the
State of New Jersey, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties
of (state rank or position) of the Borough of Gibbsboro according
to the best of my ability. So help me God."
[Amended 3-27-1991 by Ord. No. 91-3]
Appointment of a patrolman to the Police Department
is for a probationary period of one year from the date of appointment.
Continuation in the service is dependent upon the conduct of the appointee
and his fitness to perform his duties. If at any time during the probationary
period the conduct or capacity of the appointee has not been satisfactory,
he may be terminated by resolution of the governing body without trial.
The appointee shall be served with a copy of such resolution terminating
his services.
Members and employees operating Department motor
vehicles shall possess a valid New Jersey driver's license. Whenever
a driver's license is revoked, suspended or lost, such licensee shall
immediately notify his commanding officer, giving full particulars.
No member may be employed as a police officer
or guard by any person, company or corporation.
Members and employees are required to surrender
all Department property in their possession upon separation from the
service. For failure to return a nonexpendable item, the person concerned
will be required to reimburse the Department for the fair market value
of the article.
Any member under suspension shall immediately
surrender his badge, revolver and all other Department property to
his commanding officer pending disposition of the case. Any employee
under suspension shall immediately surrender all Department or municipal
property in his possession to the commanding officer or the civilian
supervisor of the unit to which he is assigned.
Members and employees who have sustained injury
while off duty and who have received salary from the Borough while
injured shall notify the Chief of Police in writing of any intent
to seek, sue for, solicit or accept compensation as damages for such
injury. This notice shall be filed before any action is taken. It
shall include the facts of the claim and the name of the respondent.
A.
Members of the Department shall have regular hours
assigned to them for active duty, and when not so employed, they shall
be considered off duty. They shall, however, be subject to duty as
needed.
B.
The fact that members may technically be off duty
shall not be held as relieving them from the responsibility of taking
proper police action on any matter coming to their attention at any
time.
Members and employees are entitled to days off
which are to be taken according to a schedule arranged by the respective
commanding officers.
Any vacation, day off or leaves of absence may
be suspended when a sudden and serious emergency arises and when,
in the judgment of the Chief of Police, such action should be taken.
Except as otherwise provided by law, any permanent
member or officer of such Police Department and force who shall be
absent from duty without just cause or leave of absence for a continuous
period of five days shall cease to be a member of such Police Department
and force.
Annual vacation periods shall be selected according
to seniority within the individual ranks. In the ranks above patrolman,
when the accrued seniority in rank is equal, the determining factor
shall be length of service in the next preceding rank.
Vacation periods shall not be scheduled between
December 15 and January 2 without the permission of the Chief of Police.
Vacation schedules shall be arranged by commanding officers with regard
to the requirements in the branches of service under their commands.
Vacations shall be completed by December 15.
A report of a vacation address is not required
from a member or employee whose vacation application has been approved.
Permission is thereby granted to him to leave the municipality during
the approved period of vacation.
Split vacation periods may be granted to any
member or employee of the Department, provided that permission has
been obtained from his commanding officer. However, once vacation
periods have been selected, they shall be completed without interruption
unless it becomes necessary, by reason of emergency, to suspend them.
When mutually agreeable, any two members or
any two employees may exchange their vacation periods or days off,
but may do so only with the approval of their commanding officers.
Members and employees unable to report for duty
because of sickness or injury shall make an immediate report to their
commanding officer or desk officer in person or by telephone. If unable
to report, a relative or other responsible person shall notify the
commanding officer or desk officer of all pertinent facts either in
person or by telephone.
Members and employees, when sick or injured,
shall be responsible for notifying their supervisors as to their places
of confinement or of any subsequent change in their places of confinement.
Members taken sick or injured on duty shall
report the facts to their command and shall remain on duty until relieved,
unless excused by a superior officer. The only exception to this rule
would be where the sickness or injury is disabling to the point of
preventing compliance.
Members or employees who absent themselves in
an improper manner shall be subject to disciplinary action taken against
them. Unauthorized absence occurs when members or employees:
A.
Are not at home or are not at their place of confinement
while on sick leave when visited by a superior officer.
B.
Feign illness or injury.
C.
Are injured or become sick as the result of improper
conduct or intemperate, immoral or vicious habits or practices.
D.
Violate any provisions concerning the reporting of
sickness or injury.
Members and employees will be allowed time off
for death in the family in accordance with the personnel policies
of the municipality and Department orders.
A member or employee who is a member of the
organized reserve component of the Army of the United States, the
United States Naval Reserve, the United States Air Force Reserve,
the United States Marine Corps. Reserve or other affiliated organizations
shall be entitled to a leave of absence from duty without loss of
pay or time on all days during which he shall be engaged in field
training. Such leave of absence shall be in addition to the regular
vacation allowed such member or employee.
Members and employees of the Department shall
not enlist, reenlist or accept a commission in any federal or state
military organization without having made prior notification to the
Chief of Police.
Before reporting for extended military service,
police officers of the Department shall surrender all Department property
held by them to their commanding officers.
Members or employees going on military leave
for field training must notify the commanding officer at least 30
days before the date that their training period is scheduled to begin.
They must also submit copies of their official military orders at
least five days prior to the date that they are to report for duty.
When a member is killed or seriously injured
on or off duty, his immediate supervisor will, as soon as possible,
verbally notify the Chief of Police or the officer acting in the Chief's
absence. This will be followed by a written report no later than the
following workday. Information shall include the date, location, cause,
extent of injuries and property damage. "Serious injury" in this instance
means an injury which could result in death or disability.
Any member or employee receiving notice of the
death of any member or employee during regular business hours shall
notify the Chief of Police and the commander of the deceased. At other
times the officer in charge shall be notified, and he shall relay
such information to the Chief of Police.
In cases where the injuries are other than of
a serious nature, a written report will be submitted on the first
workday following the incident, including all information required
above. These reports are in addition to those accident and sick reports
otherwise required.
The family of a member or employee killed or
seriously injured on duty shall be notified immediately by the highest
ranking member available.
The Police Chief shall recognize and deal with
the members and employees of the Police Department for the adjustment
of any grievances which may arise in accordance with the following
procedure:
A.
The grievance shall be presented by the member or
employee in writing to the immediate supervisor. After a full disclosure
of the facts, the supervisor must take every effort to reach a satisfactory
settlement to the aggrieved member or employee.
B.
If the supervisor cannot make an immediate settlement,
the aggrieved member or employee shall resume regular duties, and
the grievance and decision shall be forwarded to the next higher superior
officer of the unit to which the member or employee is attached. This
superior officer shall give his reply in writing.
C.
If the settlement is not satisfactory, then the grievance
shall be forwarded through the chain of command to the Chief of Police
for his attempt at a satisfactory settlement or adjustment.
D.
If the grievance is still unresolved, then the grievance
shall be referred by the Chief to the appropriate municipal official.
[Amended 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 2004-9]
All resignations of members or employees must
be in writing and bear the signature of the person resigning. Members
or employees shall provide the Chief of Police not less than 14 days'
written notice.
