Township of Haddon, NJ Special Law Enforcement Officers

The Director of Public Safety shall, with the advice of the Township Commissioners, appoint special law enforcement officers within the parameters of this article and the laws of the State of New Jersey.

Categories.

(1)

Class I. Officers of this class are authorized to perform routine traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties. They shall have the power to issue summonses for disorderly persons and petty disorderly persons offenses and violations of municipal ordinances and violations of Title 39 of the revised statutes. The use of a firearm by an officer of this category shall be strictly prohibited, and no Class I officer shall be assigned any duties which may require the carrying or use of a firearm. There may be appointed such number of Class I special law enforcement officers as may be required.

(2)

Class II. Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly appointed full-time police officer. The use of a firearm by an officer of this class may be authorized only after the officer has been fully certified as successfully completing training as prescribed by the New Jersey Police Training Commission. The number of Class II special law enforcement officers shall not exceed 25% of the total number of regular police officers.

No person may be appointed as a special law enforcement officer unless said person:

(1)

Is a resident of this state during the term of appointment;

(2)

Is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently and has a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(3)

Is sound in body and of good health;

(4)

Is of good moral character;

(5)

Has not been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty or which would make him/her unfit to perform the duties of his/her office;

(6)

Has successfully undergone the same medical and psychological testing that is required of all full-time police officers in the Township;

(7)

Shall have had fingerprints taken, which fingerprints shall be filed with the Division of State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and

(8)

Is not serving as a special law enforcement officer or regularly appointed full-time police officer of any municipality; is not a public official with responsibility for setting law enforcement policy or exercising authority over the budget or supervision of the police department of any municipality.

§ 54-10 Approval by Chief of Police.

Approval by Chief of Police. Before any special law enforcement officer is appointed, the Chief of Police shall ascertain the eligibility and qualifications of the applicant and report these determinations in writing to the Commissioners prior to appointment.

§ 54-11 Training requirements; firearms.

No person may commence duty as a special law enforcement officer until successful completion of a training course approved by the New Jersey Police Training Commission nor may said individual be issued a firearm until the successful completion of the basic firearms course approved by said Commission for permanent, regularly appointed police and annual requalification examinations.

§ 54-12 Term.

Special law enforcement officers may be appointed for terms not to exceed one year. The appointment may be revoked by the governing body, for cause, after adequate hearing, unless the appointment is for four months or less, in which event the appointment may be revoked without cause or hearing. Nothing herein shall be construed to require reappointment upon the expiration of the term. The special law enforcement officers so appointed shall not be members of the police force of the Township, and their powers and duties as determined pursuant hereto shall cease at the expiration of the term for which appointed.

§ 54-13 Carrying of weapons.

No special law enforcement officer may carry a firearm except while engaged in the actual performance of official duties and when specifically authorized by the Chief of Police or his designee, provided that the special law enforcement officer has satisfactorily completed the basic firearms course required by the New Jersey Police Training Commission for regular police officers and annual requalification examinations as required for permanent, regularly appointed full-time officers in the Township.

§ 54-14 Return of weapon.

Any firearm utilized by a special law enforcement officer shall be returned at the end of the officer's workday. A weapon may not be carried while off-duty.

§ 54-15 Compliance with local ordinances, rules and regulations.

The special law enforcement officers shall comply with all ordinances, rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of the permanent, regularly appointed police officers of the Township, as well as any specific rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of special law enforcement officers.

§ 54-16 Compensation, fees and charges.

[Amended 8-19-1997 by Ord. No. 1024]

Special law enforcement officers may be paid for their services in accordance with a fee schedule to be determined by the Board of Commissioners. In order to qualify for appropriate insurance coverage, these officers shall be deemed to be in the employ of the Township.

§ 54-17 Hours of employment; utilization.

No special law enforcement officer shall be employed for a time period in excess of that authorized by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq., except that the Chief of Police may designate one special law enforcement officer to whom the limitation on hours of employment shall not be applicable. In cases of a declared emergency, there shall be no limitation on the amount of hours.

Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, special law enforcement officers may be utilized only to assist local law enforcement, but may not be employed to replace or substitute for full-time, regular police officers or in any way diminish the number of full-time officers employed by the Township.