[Adopted 11-7-1972 by Ord. No. 582]
This article shall be known and cited as the "Police Educational Incentive Ordinance of the Township of Haddon in the County of Camden and State of New Jersey."
It is expressly stated by the Township of Haddon, County of Camden and State of New Jersey, that such Township hereby encourages members of its Police Department to pursue formal education in the areas of police science or police administration, or both, in order to better serve the needs of the citizens of such Township.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCREDITED INSTITUTION
An institution of higher learning accredited by the New Jersey State Department of Education.
CREDIT HOUR or CREDIT HOURS
Equivalent to semester hour or semester hours, as the case may be.
CREDIT HOUR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED
Equivalent to that designation as used by the particular accredited institution with respect to any credit hour offered by such institution.
FALSE CLAIM
A claim or attempted claim for payment due hereunder based upon a fact known to be false, and each such claim or attempted claim shall constitute a separate and distinct "false claim."
MEMBER OF THE POLICE FORCE
Any full-time member of the police force of Haddon Township without regard to such member's rank or grade.
PASSING GRADE
That grade established by the particular accredited institution with regard to any credit hour offered by such institution.
A. 
Each member of the police force shall receive, in addition to all other payments and allowances provided by law, the sum of $1 per credit hour per month for each month during which such member was enrolled in a law-enforcement college course in the field of police science or police administration. The payments shall be made at the end of the semester period for the course or courses as completed, but payment shall be made only on account of a credit hour in which a member of the police force has obtained a passing grade, or if there shall be no passing grade, such payment shall be made only on account of a credit hour successfully completed.
B. 
Any member of the police force who is entitled to payment as provided above shall make a claim for payment and supply such information in such claim as may be reasonably required by the Director of Public Safety of the Township of Haddon and shall produce proof adequate to the Director of Public Safety of the Township of Haddon concerning the passing grade in each credit hour or the successful completion of each credit hour for which payment is claimed.
C. 
No payment shall be made to a member of the police force for a passing grade in any credit hour or any credit hour successfully completed while not a member of the police force until such member of the police force shall obtain passing grades in or successfully complete 64 credit hours or the then-current equivalent of an associate degree. Upon receiving the then-current equivalent of an associate degree or obtaining passing grades in or successfully completing 64 credit hours, the member of the police force shall receive all sums to which such member of the police force is entitled hereunder, together with all sums which such member of the police force would have been entitled to had such member of the police force been a member of the police force at the time the passing grade was obtained in any credit hour or at the time any credit hour was successfully completed.
A. 
It shall be unlawful to make a false claim or assist in making a false claim for payment as provided in any subsection of § 54-21 above.
B. 
Any person, persons, unincorporated association or corporation, or otherwise, who shall make a false claim or assist in making a false claim for payment as provided in any subsection § 54-21 above shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 90 days, or both, in the discretion of the Judge before whom such conviction shall be had.
[Amended 4-7-1987 by Ord. No. 819]
This article may be amended as provided by law.
Incentive payments as provided by § 54-21 above shall be made for courses in which a member of the police force has received a passing grade anytime after January 1, 1969, or if there shall be no passing grade, such payments shall be made on account of credit hours successfully completed anytime after January 1, 1969.