[Amended 8-8-1977 by Ord. No. 17-77; 10-19-1988 by Ord. No. 20-88; 11-10-1993 by Ord. No. 16-93; 4-1-1998 by Ord. No. 9-98; 9-2-1998 by Ord. No. 27-98; 12-5-2001 by Ord. No. 35-01; 12-19-2001 by Ord. No. 36-01; 7-16-2003 by Ord. No. 22-03]
A. 
There is hereby established a Department of Public Safety, the head of which shall be other than a policeman or fireman in the municipality.
B. 
The Mayor or Administrator may serve as Director, without additional compensation. The Department shall consist of the following:
(1) 
Division of Police.
(2) 
Division of Fire Prevention.
(3) 
Division of Emergency Management.
(4) 
Division of Communications.
(5) 
Division of Fire Fighting.
(6) 
Division of Emergency Medical Services.
[Added 9-23-2015 by Ord. No. 19-15]
A. 
Head of Division; organization.
[Amended 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 26-04]
(1) 
The Division of Police shall be headed by the Chief of Police who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the Township Council. In the event that there shall be a vacancy in the office of the Chief of Police or, for any reason, the appointed Chief of Police shall be incapacitated or otherwise unable to perform his or her duties, then the next highest ranking police officer in the Police Department shall assume the duties of the Chief of Police until such time as the vacancy is filled or the appointed Chief of Police can resume his or her duties.
(2) 
The Division shall be organized according to such table of organization as shall be prescribed by the Chief of Police with the approval of the Director of Public Safety. The Division shall consist of the following officers:
(a) 
One Chief of Police.
(b) 
(Reserved)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(2)(b), regarding the position of Deputy Chief of Police, was repealed 4-3-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03.]
(c) 
One Captain.
(d) 
Three Lieutenants.
(e) 
Seven Sergeants. The number will revert back six Sergeants upon the vacating of a Sergeant's position for any reason. Upon such occurrence, the Township may appoint up to six Sergeants.
[Amended 4-19-2023 by Ord. No. 23-07]
(f) 
Thirty additional officers as budgeted and approved by the Mayor and Council, with the entire department not to exceed a total of 42 regular full-time officers.
(g) 
The Township may appoint up to five Class I Special Law Enforcement Officers and up to five Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers as it deems necessary to perform the duties and responsibilities permitted by law.
[Amended 12-19-2007 by Ord. No. 28-07]
(h) 
Chaplain to be appointed by the Director of Public Safety in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-141, who shall be appointed for a three-year term without salary.
[Added 5-11-2011 by Ord. No. 10-11]
B. 
Rules and regulations established. There is hereby established rules and regulations to govern the Police Department, which shall be known as the "Township of Jefferson Police Department Rules and Regulations." A copy of said rules and regulations is attached hereto and made a part hereof and adopted by reference without the inclusion of the text. Two copies of said Jefferson Township Police Department Rules and Regulations shall be placed on file in the office of the Clerk of the Township and one copy with the Chief of Police in the Township and shall remain on file there in said office for the use and examination by the public.
C. 
Amendments and revocations of rules and regulations. The governing body reserves the right to amend or revoke any of the rules, regulations or procedures or add thereto of the Jefferson Township Police Department Rules and Regulations as circumstances may require.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former § 1A-36D, Residency requirement for police officers, which previously followed this subsection, was deleted 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 28-04.
D. 
The Director of the Department of Public Safety shall be the appropriate authority for the adoption and promulgation of rules and regulations for the Police Department, and for the discipline of its members, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118.
[Added 12-19-2012 by Ord. No. 18-12]
E. 
In the appointment of police officers to the Jefferson Township Police Department, the appointing authority shall have the right, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-123.1A, to grant a preference for those applicants who were residents as of the closing date of the Civil Service Examination for such position. Nothing herein shall be construed to require any applicant that is being appointed to a position in the Police Department be a resident as of the date of the appointment.
[Added 3-20-2013 by Ord. No. 2-13]
F. 
Appointments to the department; qualifications.
[Added 4-6-2022 by Ord. No. 22-03]
(1) 
All appointments to the Police Department shall be in accordance with the requirements of applicable law. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 11A:4-1.3, the State of New Jersey has authorized that municipalities may hire entry-level police officers who have successfully completed a basic course for police officers at a school approved and authorized by the New Jersey Police Training Commission ("PTC"), and such applicant may be exempt from the requirement to take the civil service examination for an entry-level law enforcement position in the discretion of the Township. In appropriate circumstances, therefore, an applicant may be hired without having taken a civil service examination. In appropriate circumstances, an applicant shall be required to successfully complete a physical and a psychological examination.
(2) 
The Township has previously adopted by an ordinance of the governing body a conflict of interest policy and nepotism policy as contained within the Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual, as required by N.J.S.A. 11A:4-1.3.
[Added 3-19-2003 by Ord. No. 9-03]
A. 
The Director of Public Safety shall be authorized to establish written rules and regulations governing the utilization of Jefferson Township police officers for contracted police services by entities other than the Township.
B. 
Any person or entity desiring to retain the services of police officers of the Township of Jefferson for police-related activities shall be required to enter into a contract with the Township of Jefferson. Said contract shall include but not be limited to the nature of the duties to be performed, the location of said duties, the date and hours of service, the rate of payment for services of the officers, administrative fees to the Township of Jefferson and fees for the use of Township-owned equipment. Entities utilizing police officers shall be required to submit and post moneys in advance into escrow with the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Jefferson. Any and all services provided pursuant to this agreement shall be discontinued immediately if the entity entering into this contract does not replenish the escrow account funds provided under this section for payment for the police services immediately upon notice from the Township. The Township Administrator is hereby empowered to execute a contract for police-related activities on behalf of the Township in accordance with this section.
C. 
The Chief of Police or his designee shall coordinate the scheduling of any and all employment by Jefferson Township police officers. The Chief of Police shall be authorized to designate other members of the Police Department as needed to assist him in the assignment of police-related activities. In addition, the Chief of Police further has the authority to determine the appropriateness of any assignment and, if he does not believe the assignment is appropriate, he has the authority to deny the request for use of police officers.
D. 
The Chief Financial Officer of the Township shall establish an escrow account through a dedication by rider for the purpose of collecting and distributing funds from entities other than the Township which utilize the services of Jefferson Township police officers during the contracted hours. All recordkeeping with respect to the amount to be billed and collected will be the responsibility of the Chief Financial Officer and his or her staff.
E. 
All persons or entities shall be required to make all payments for contracted assignments payable to the Township of Jefferson through the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Jefferson. The rate of pay for officers shall be established on an annual basis though the Township's Salary Ordinance. The Township may establish separate rates for police services provided to contractors, other public entities and nonprofit entities such as school districts or local churches. The rates charged by the Township will be in agreement with the labor contract established with PBA Local 190. A fifteen-percent administrative fee shall be added to cover additional administrative costs incurred by the Township. No administrative fee will be charged to the public school system and may be waived at the discretion of the Township Administrator for other public entities and nonprofit organizations. The Township of Jefferson reserves the right to establish an equipment use fee based on an hourly rate for such equipment.
F. 
Each person or entity who shall employ police officers pursuant to this section shall be responsible for maintaining their own insurance coverage. Said insurance coverage shall include, but not be limited to, general liability and automobile liability, and shall name the Township of Jefferson as an additional insured. In addition, such policy shall provide for a minimum coverage of $500,000 for any one claim or $1,000,000 for any aggregate claims, in both personal liability and comprehensive general liability, and $300,000 in property damage coverage. Proof of said insurance coverage shall be provided to the Police Department of the Township of Jefferson prior to the assignment of any contracted police officers to said person or entity. The person or entity shall provide insurance coverage for the aforementioned for any and all officers, vehicles and/or equipment that are utilized by the assignment. The Township Council may reduce the amount of insurance for a nonprofit corporation, provided that such reduction does not adversely affect the Township's insurance coverage through its insurance carrier.
G. 
The Chief of Police or his designee shall have the authority to order any police officer engaged in contracted police services within the Township of Jefferson to respond to an emergency situation. The Chief of Police or designee shall also have the right to order any off-duty assignment to be terminated whenever said assignment creates an unacceptable risk to the health, safety and welfare of the off-duty officer and/or to the general public. In the event that a police officer is assigned to an emergency situation, the Police Chief or designee shall make notice of that emergency situation, as well as the time said officer was removed from said off-duty assignment. In any situation where a contracted police officer is called to an emergency situation, said person or entity shall not be responsible for the payment of the officer's hourly rate, administrative fee or any other fees to the Township of Jefferson until such time as said police officer and/or equipment returns to the assignment with the contracted employer.
H. 
Any person or entity requesting the services of contracted police officers shall execute an agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Township of Jefferson for any and all claims and damages which may arise from the off-duty police officer's employment by said person or entity, as designated by the Chief of Police.
[1]
Editor's Note: This section was previously included as Ch. 75, Police Department, Art. I, Contracted Services, of the 1967 Code, but it was moved to this chapter at the request of the Township.
[Amended 12-3-2003 by Ord. No. 36-03; 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 28-04; 3-2-2011 by Ord. No. 2-11; 4-5-2023 by Ord. No. 23-05]
A. 
Collection. The Police Department of the Township of Jefferson will collect the fees as herein established and will pay the same over, within 48 hours of collection, to the Treasurer of the Township of Jefferson.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 114, Records, Public Access to.
Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Division of Fire Prevention headed by the Fire Marshal. Operating directly under the Director of the Department of Public Safety shall be the Fire Marshal and Fire Inspectors, as licensed under New Jersey's Uniform Fire Safety Code, of the Township of Jefferson as have heretofore been or may hereafter be organized. The Director of Public Safety shall promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of the Fire Prevention Bureau, all of which shall be in accordance with state and local ordinances.
[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 47, Fire Department.
Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Division of Fire Fighting headed by the Township Fire Chief. Operating directly under the Director of the Department of Public Safety shall be the volunteer fire-fighting companies of the Township of Jefferson as have heretofore been or may hereafter be organized. The Director of Public Safety shall promulgate rules and regulations for the operation of the volunteer fire-fighting companies, all of which shall be in accordance with state and local ordinances.
Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Division of Emergency Management. The Division shall consist of an Emergency Management Coordinator, who shall be appointed by the Mayor of the Township, and an Emergency Management Council, the members of which shall also be appointed by the Mayor of the Township. The Emergency Management Coordinator and Emergency Management Council shall have such functions, powers and duties as provided by state laws, orders and regulations of the New Jersey Department of Public Safety.
A. 
Division established. Within the Department of Public Safety there shall be a Division of Communications, the head of which shall be appointed by the Director of Public Safety and who shall be designated the Information Technologies (IT) Coordinator.
B. 
Powers and duties. Under the supervision of the Director of Public Safety, the Division shall:
(1) 
Provide or supervise for the care, maintenance and repair of all radio and telephone communications and associated electronic equipment, including computer-related equipment, owned and/or operated by the Township of Jefferson.
(2) 
Establish standards and procedures for the purchase, control, use and care of all Township-owned communications and related equipment, materials and supplies.
[Added 9-23-2015 by Ord. No. 19-15]
Division established.
A. 
Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Division of Emergency Medical Services, consisting of the Jefferson Rescue Squad and the Milton First Aid Squad.
B. 
The respective chiefs of each squad shall act as the head of said division and shall report directly to the Director of Public Safety.