[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Saddle River11-17-2014 by Ord.
No. 14-902-C.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Salaries and compensation — See Ch. 56.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 52,
Police Department, adopted 7-8-1974 as Ch. 2, Art. 4, of the 1974
Code, as amended.
There is hereby created in and for the Borough of Saddle River,
in the County of Bergen and State of New Jersey, a Police Department.
The Police Department shall be known as the "Police Department of
the Borough of Saddle River."
[Deleted in entirety 3-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-970-C]
[Amended 8-22-2018 by Ord. No. 18-950-C]
The Saddle River Police Department shall consist of no more
than one Chief of Police, no more than one Captain, no more than two
Lieutenants, up to six Sergeants, and a maximum of 10 police officers,
to be appointed to these positions by the Mayor with the advice and
consent of the Borough Council.
A.
In addition, the Police Department may request that the Mayor and
Council appoint and employ clerical personnel and other employees
to assist its officers in preserving peace and good order in the Borough.
B.
Membership and promotion in the Police Department shall be by appointment
by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council.
[Amended 3-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-970-C]
(1)
Promotional process.
(a)
Only officers who are members of this Department at the time
of promotional process are eligible for consideration consistent with
New Jersey Law.
(b)
In order to be eligible for promotion in the promotion process
candidates must meet all the criteria established for such promotion
on the date of the vacancy announcement.
(c)
Sergeants' eligibility requirements. The candidate must have
completed a total of three years in the rank of officer in the Saddle
River Police Department and shall possess, from an accredited college
or university, at least a bachelor's degree, at least 15 credits of
which must be in criminal justice, police science or law-enforcement-related
fields.
(d)
Lieutenants' eligibility requirements. The candidate must hold
the rank of Sergeant with the Saddle River Police Department and shall
possess, from an accredited college or university, at least 90 credits,
at least 30 credits of which must be in criminal justice, police science
or law enforcement related fields. On January 1, 2020, and thereafter,
the candidate must possess a bachelor's degree, 30 credits of which
must be in criminal justice, police science, or law enforcement related
fields.
(e)
Captains' eligibility requirements. The candidate must have
a minimum of five years as a Saddle River police officer and served
as a superior officer on the Saddle River Police Department. The candidate
must possess a bachelor's degree, 30 credits of which must be in criminal
justice, police science, or law enforcement related fields.
(f)
Chief of Police eligibility requirements. The candidate must
have a minimum of five years as a Saddle River police officer and
served as a superior officer on the Saddle River Police Department.
The candidate must possess a bachelor's degree which must be in criminal
justice, police science, or law enforcement related fields. While
not required, a candidate with a master's degree in criminal justice,
police science, or law enforcement related field is preferred.
(2)
Evaluation for promotion. Candidates for promotion will submit to
the following process:
(a)
The candidate will submit a resume detailing their qualifications
for the position sought. (Note: Additional requirements may be added
at the time of the vacancy announcement).
(b)
Candidates will interview with the appropriate authority, Personnel
Committee and Chief of Police; except in the case of Chief, the candidate
will interview with the Personnel Committee and appropriate authority.
(c)
Due consideration shall be given to the length and merit of
service and seniority in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A.
40A:14-129, as amended.
(d)
The Personnel Committee will recommend to the Mayor and Council
the candidate(s) for appointment. The Mayor and Council ultimately
make the appointment.
(3)
Promotional announcement. Whenever a vacancy occurs, and the Mayor
and Council have directed the Chief to fill the vacant position, a
written announcement, posted in the Police Department and sent to
each Police Officer via e-mail, shall be made at least 30 days before
the start of the process.
(a)
The announcement shall contain the eligibility requirements;
(b)
The written announcement shall describe the position available;
(c)
The written announcement shall contain a description of the
process to be used in selecting of personnel for the vacancy; and
(d)
Each officer intending to participate in the process must submit
a letter of intent no later than 10 days after the announcement.
(4)
As a prerequisite to appointment, the candidate may be required to
pass a thorough medical examination (including drug screening) and
psychiatric examination to be administered by the Borough of Saddle
River. Any psychological, medical or physical condition or defect
which would prevent efficient performance of the duties of the position,
cause the appointee to be a hazard to himself/herself or others, or
become aggravated as a result of performance of these duties will
be cause for rejection. A complete physical examination may be required
at the expense of the Borough of Saddle River. Failure to comply with
medical recommendations may be cause for disciplinary action. Persons
with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they
are able to perform the essential functions of the position after
reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the
accommodations cannot be made because it would cause the Borough of
Saddle River undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
(5)
Appeals of process. Within 10 days of the results of candidates a
candidate may file a written letter of appeal. Said letter must contain
the reason(s) or justification(s) for an appeal and must be submitted
to the appropriate authority, through the appropriate chain of command.
The appropriate authority will assess the request and make a determination
of how the request will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Such
requests may address the following areas of the promotional process:
(a)
Review and retabulation of the scored elements of the selection
process.
(b)
Review any evaluation or internal document that was used in
the selection process related to the appellant.
(c)
If the appeal impacts upon the results of the promotional ranking
as determined by the Chief of Police (with exception if the vacancy
is for the position of Chief of Police or Captain), the appropriate
authority and Public Safety Committee, the candidate may be permitted
to be reevaluated.
A.
No person shall be appointed as a member of the Police Department
unless he is a citizen of the United States and a resident of the
State of New Jersey, is sound in body and of good health, is able
to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently
and is of good moral character;
B.
No person shall be appointed as a member of the Police Department
who has been convicted of any crime constituting an indictable offense
or who has been convicted of any crime or offense involving moral
turpitude;
C.
No person shall be appointed as a member of the Police Department
except in compliance with state statutes;
D.
Age of not less than 21 years or more than 35 years, unless currently
a member of the Policemen's and Firemen's Pension System (PFRS), who
may exceed 35 years of age;
E.
Must be a citizen of the United States and a resident of New Jersey
at the time of appointment;
F.
Must possess a valid New Jersey driver's license at the time of appointment;
G.
Must possess a bachelor's degree.
Upon his appointment/promotion, each member of the Police Department
shall take and subscribe to such oath as may be required by law.
[Amended 3-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-970-C; 9-21-2020 by Ord. No. 20-99C]
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118, the Mayor of the Borough
of Saddle River is hereby designated as the appropriate authority
and is hereby vested with the powers and duties of an appropriate
authority as delegated by law.
The salaries of all members of the Police Department shall be as set forth in Chapter 56, Salaries and Compensation.
The Chief of Police shall be directly responsible to the appropriate
authority in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118 and shall, pursuant
to policies by the governing body and consistent with Borough ordinances:
A.
Administer and enforce the rules and regulations of the Police Department
and any special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline
of the Department and its officers and personnel.
B.
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of
the Police Department.
C.
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other
personnel.
D.
Delegate such of his authority as he may deem necessary for the efficient
operation of the Police Department to be exercised under his direction
and supervision.
E.
Report to the appropriate authority in such form as shall be prescribed
by such authority on the operation of the Department and make such
other reports as may be requested by such authority.
The Police Department, under the direction and supervision of
the Chief of Police, shall be organized in such manner and with such
assignment of personnel as the Chief of Police shall order and shall
consist of such personnel as may be authorized and approved in the
municipal budget. The Police Department shall:
A.
Preserve the public peace, prevent crime, detect and arrest offenders
against the laws and ordinances effective within the Borough.
B.
Administer and enforce laws and ordinances to regulate, direct and
control, and restrict the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic
and the use of the streets by vehicles and persons generally.
C.
Remove all nuisances in the public streets, parks, and other public
places.
D.
Inspect and observe all places of public assemblage and all places
of business requiring any state or Borough license or permit and report
thereon to the appropriate department.
E.
Operate a training program to maintain and improve the efficiency
of the members of the Department.
F.
Perform all other functions as required by general law.
A.
No person shall be removed from office in the Police Department for
political reasons or for any other cause than incapacity, misconduct
or disobedience of the rules and regulations established for the government
of the Police Department.
B.
No officer in the Police Department shall be suspended or removed
from office, fined or reduced in rank except for a just cause, and
then only if the written charge or charges of the cause or causes
of the complaint shall have been preferred against such officer, signed
by the person making such charge or charges, and filed with the Council.
A copy of the charges shall be served upon such charged person within
15 days after the filing thereof. A hearing shall be held by the proper
authorities in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147.
C.
A complaint charging a violation of the internal rules and regulations
shall be filed no later than the 45th day after the date on which
the person filing the complaint obtained sufficient information to
file the matter upon which the complaint is based.
The appropriate authority shall, from time to time as may be
necessary, adopt and amend the rules and regulations for the government
and discipline of the Police Department and employees thereof. Said
rules and regulations may fix and provide for the enforcement of such
rules and regulations and the enforcement of penalties for the violation
of such rules and regulations. All employees of the Police Department
shall be subject to such rules and regulations and penalties.
[Added 12-17-2018 by Ord.
No. 18-953-C]
A.
Purpose; establishment of policy. For the convenience of those persons
and entities that utilize the services of off-duty enforcement officers
of the Saddle River Police Department, and to authorize the outside
employment of Borough police while off duty, the Borough hereby establishes
a policy regarding the use of said officers:
(1)
Members of the Police Department shall be permitted to accept police-related
employment for private employers or school districts only during off-duty
hours and at such time as will not interfere with the efficient performance
of regularly scheduled or emergency duty for the Borough.
(2)
Any person or entity wishing to employ off-duty police shall first
obtain the approval of the Chief of Police, which approval shall be
granted if, in the opinion of the Chief, such employment would not
be inconsistent with the efficient functioning and good reputation
of the Police Department and would not unreasonable endanger or threaten
the safety of the officer or officers who are to perform the work.
B.
Compensation for services. The rates of compensation for contracting
the services of off-duty law enforcement officers shall be based on
a rate equal to that of time and one-half of the contractual hourly
rate for the individual officer being compensated. The party requesting
the service shall not make any payment directly to the police officers.
All payments shall be made to the Borough of Saddle River within 10
days of service.
C.
Administrative costs. In addition, the party requesting such service
shall pay a fee of 15% for related payroll and administrative costs
associated with the project.
D.
Use of police vehicles. If a party requests, or the police Chief
determines a police car is necessary, then the party shall pay the
Borough of Saddle River a rate of $150 per day for the use of each
police vehicle.
[Added 4-19-2021 by Ord. No. 21-1016-C]
The appropriate authority may appoint, from time to time, special
law enforcement officers in accordance with New Jersey statutes for
terms not exceeding one year. They shall possess and exercise all
the powers and duties provided by such statutes during their term
in office, but shall not be continued as regular members of the Police
Department and shall not be entitled to tenure. The Chief of Police
may authorize special law enforcement officers, when on duty, to exercise
the same powers and authority as regular members of the Police Department,
including the carrying of firearms and the power of arrest, provided
that the officers are qualified to do so pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.8
et seq., and as amended. The special law enforcement officers'
salary range shall be $25 to $35 per hour.
