In accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A.
40A:14-118 and N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8, there is hereby created the
position of special law enforcement officer for the Borough of Pennington.
Each special officer appointed shall be subject to the requirements
set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8 et seq.
The classification of special law enforcement
officers shall be based upon the duties to be performed by said officers
and are established as follows:
A.
Class 1.
(1)
The officers of this class are authorized to perform
routine traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties as may
be assigned by the Public Safety Director, the Chief of Police or,
in the absence of the Chief, another law enforcement officer in a
supervisory capacity to act in his/her stead. Said Class 1 officers
are also authorized to issue summonses for disorderly persons and
petty disorderly persons offenses, violations of municipal ordinances
or violations of Title 39 of the Revised Statutes of New Jersey. The
use of firearms by said Class I officers is strictly prohibited, and
no Class I officer shall be assigned any duties which may require
the carrying or use of a firearm.
(2)
The number of Class 1 special officers shall be at
the discretion of the Borough Council. Before any special law enforcement
officer is appointed, the Public Safety Director, the Chief of Police
or, in the absence of the Chief, another chief law enforcement officer
shall ascertain the eligibility and qualifications of the applicant
and report these determinations in writing to the Borough Council.
B.
Class 2.
(1)
Officers in this class are hereby authorized to exercise
full powers and duties similar to those of a permanent, regularly
appointed, full-time police officers. They shall be assigned such
powers and duties by the Public Safety Director, the Chief of Police
or, in the absence of the Chief, another chief law enforcement 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 Police Training Commission established
within the Department of Law and Public Safety of the State of New
Jersey,
(2)
The number of Class 2 officers shall not exceed 25%
of the number of regular officers employed by the Borough of Pennington.
Special officers of the First and Second Class
shall be appointed for terms not to exceed one year by the Borough
Council, and the appointment may be revoked by the Borough Council
for cause after hearing, as required by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147. The powers
and duties of special officers shall cease upon expiration of the
term for which they are appointed. Special officers so appointed shall
not be members of the police force of the Police Department of the
Borough of Pennington.
A.
No person may be appointed as a special law enforcement
officer unless the person:
(1)
Is a resident of this state during the terms of employment.
(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 the office.
(6)
Has successfully undergone the same psychological
testing that is required of all full-time police officers in the Borough
of Pennington.
B.
The Public Safety Director, Chief of Police or, in
his/her absence, other chief law enforcement officer shall have the
applicant fingerprinted as required by statute, conduct a background
investigation of the applicant to determine the eligibility and qualification
of the applicant and shall report these determinations, in writing,
to the Borough Council.
No person shall commence serving as a special
officer unless he/she has been certified by the Police Training Commission,
as provided by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.10.
A.
No special officer may work more than 20 hours per
week, except as follows: without limitation as to hours during a period
of emergency.
B.
The Borough Council may designate one special officer
to whom the limitation of hours set forth in this section shall not
apply as provided for by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.16c.
A.
A special officer shall be under the supervision and
direction of the Public Safety Director, the Chief of Police or, in
the absence of the Chief, other chief law enforcement officer of the
Borough of Pennington and shall perform his/her duties only in the
Borough of Pennington unless in fresh pursuit of any person pursuant
to Chapter 156 of Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes.
B.
The special police shall comply with the rules and
regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum of the permanent
regularly appointed police officers of the Borough of Pennington,
including all general orders, special orders of memoranda, as well
as any rules and regulations applicable to the conduct and decorum
of special officers.
The uniforms of the special officers shall be
determined by the Public Safety Director or the Chief of Police and
shall be in compliance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.12.
