Township of Hanover, NJ Organization

The Police Department of the Township of Hanover as heretofore established is hereby continued.

§ 53-2 Composition; transition of Chief of Police.

Composition.

The Police Department shall consist of the following ranks in the following numbers:

Rank	Number of Officers
Chief of Police	One (subject to Subsection B below)
Captain	One
Lieutenant	One to two
Sergeant	Five to six
Patrol Officer	Nineteen to Twenty Three

(2)

Appointment of officers within the above ranks and authorized number of positions therein shall be by resolution.

In order to assure an orderly transition when a Chief of Police has indicated his/her intention to retire, the following exception to Subsection A above, shall apply:

(1)

When a Chief of Police has submitted his/her service retirement application, and has thereby stated his/her intention to retire as of a date certain, and is absent from duty due to terminal or other leave pending said retirement date, a successor may be permanently appointed to the position of Chief of Police during the retiring Chief's terminal or other leave, notwithstanding that the retiring Chief may remain on the Township's payroll during such leave. The retiring Chief shall be prohibited from withdrawing his/her service retirement application once a successor has been so appointed.

§ 53-3 Power of Township Committee to amend or repeal chapter.

The Township Committee of the Township of Hanover shall at all times have full power and authority in its sole discretion to amend or supplement this chapter, to repeal any part of this chapter and to repeal this chapter in its entirety.

§ 53-3.1 Township Committee as appropriate authority under law.

The Township Committee shall be deemed the appropriate authority pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 for the maintenance, regulation and control of the Township's Police Department. The Township Committee shall act as the appropriate authority on all matters relating to the Police Department and shall possess the authority to:

Adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the police force and for the disciplining of its members.

Establish policies for the efficient operation of the police force and for the guidance of the Chief of Police.

Have direct responsibility over the Chief of Police and receive reports not less than monthly from the Chief on the operation of the force and on such other matters that the Township Committee may request, in such form as the Township Committee shall prescribe.

Examine at any time the operations of the Police Department or the performance of any officer, member or employee thereof.

Provide for the health, safety or welfare of the Township in emergency situations through special emergency directives.

Delegate such of its authority, as the Township Committee may see fit, to any member or subcommittee thereof, subject to review, advice and consent of the Township Committee as a whole and only to the extent such delegation is consistent with applicable law.

Conduct disciplinary hearings involving members of the police force. The Township Committee may delegate the conduct of hearings to an independent officer, who shall be authorized to make recommended findings and conclusions; provided, however, that the Township Committee shall retain full authority to accept, reject or modify the hearing officer's recommendations and to make a final determination.

§ 53-4 Adoption of rules and regulations.

The Township Committee shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the police force and for the disciplining of its members and may add to, delete from or amend said rules from time to time as necessary or appropriate. All rules, regulations, policies and standard operating procedures in effect shall remain in full force and effect pending such repeal or amendment as the Township Committee may make.

§ 53-5 Powers and duties of Chief of Police.

The Chief of Police shall be the executive officer of the Police Department and shall be directly responsible to the Township Committee for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operations of the Police Department. The Chief shall, pursuant to the policies established by the Township Committee:

Administer and enforce rules and regulations and special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the police force and its officers and personnel.

Exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of the police force.

Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other personnel.

Delegate such of his/her authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient operation of the force to be exercised under his direction and supervision.

Report, at least monthly, to the Township Committee in such a form as shall be prescribed by the Township Committee on the operation of the police force during the preceding month and make such other reports as may be requested by the Township Committee.

Cause public peace to be preserved and see that all the laws and ordinances, written orders and resolutions of the Township Committee pertaining to police enforcement are properly complied with.

Faithfully and promptly obey and cause all the personnel under him to obey all the rules, regulations, resolutions and orders from time to time prescribed by the Township Committee.

§ 53-6 Captain of Police.

The Captain of Police shall be next senior in rank to the Chief of Police in the administration of the Police Department and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the Chief of Police. In the absence of the Chief of Police, temporary or otherwise, the Captain of Police shall perform the duties and have all of the powers of Chief during the latter's absence from duty. In addition to these duties, the Captain of Police shall assist the Chief of Police in the administration of the Police Department and shall effectively recommend disciplinary action to superiors when such action appears justified. He/she shall effectively recommend policy to superiors within the scope of his authority.

§ 53-7 Lieutenant of Police.

The Lieutenant of Police shall, as his/her primary duty, perform the tasks related to the management of the Police Department, including work requiring the exercise of discretion and independent judgment. He/she shall be responsible for the management of the Department and shall assist the Chief of Police and the Captain of Police in the administration of the Police Department. The Lieutenant shall effectively recommend hiring, firing, promotion, advancement, discipline and similar changes of employment status to superiors when such action appears justified, and his/her recommendations shall be given particular weight. He/she shall effectively recommend policy to superiors within the scope of his/her authority and shall perform other job related duties as directed and authorized by his/her superiors. His/her work shall include the customary and regular direction of the work of two or more other employees of the Police Department. In the absence of the Chief of Police and Captain of Police, the Lieutenant shall supervise operations of the Police Department.

§ 53-7.1 Sergeant of Police.

The Sergeant of Police shall be next senior in rank to the Lieutenant of Police and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the Chief of Police, Captain or Lieutenant. The exercise of duties and responsibilities shall be in conformance with the rules, regulations and personnel procedures as set forth in the Police Department's Rules and Regulations and Policy and Standard Operating Procedure Manual.

§ 53-8 Police Physician.

Each year, the Township Committee may appoint a police physician who shall serve from January of the year of his/her appointment for a term of one year.