Borough of Riverton, NJ Article IV Qualifications and Appointment

§ 26-7 Director of Public Safety.

No person other than the Chairman of the Police Committee of the Borough Council shall be eligible to hold the office of Director of Public Safety.

§ 26-8 Acting Director of Public Safety.

No person other than the Vice Chairman of the Police Committee of the Borough Council shall be eligible to hold the office of Acting Director of Public Safety.

§ 26-9 General qualifications for members.

[Amended 11-14-1974 by Ord. No. 315; 4-12-1979 by Ord. No. 2-79; 4-20-2021 by Ord. No. O-2021-03]

No person shall be eligible or qualified to be appointed Chief of Police, Sergeant of Police, Lieutenant of Police or police officer unless at the time of his or her appointment:

A. He/she shall be a citizen of the United States and of the State of New Jersey.

B. He/she shall be of good moral character, shall be not less than five feet four inches tall and shall be sound in body and in good health sufficient to satisfy the Board of Trustees of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System of New Jersey that he/she is eligible for membership in the retirement system.

C. He shall be able to read and write the English language intelligently.

D. He/she shall not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude that, in the judgment of the Borough Council, would be prejudicial to the morale or effectiveness of the police force.

E. His/her mental health, as determined by the Police Committee with the assistance of a physician or psychologist, shall be such as will enable him or her both to enforce and to obey the law, with due concern for the rights and safety of all citizens.

§ 26-10 Application procedure.

[Amended 4-20-2021 by Ord. No. O-2021-03]

A. No person shall be appointed Chief of Police, unless he/she shall first make written application to the Borough Council for such appointment. Every such application shall be in the form prescribed by the Borough Council, shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and shall be filed with the Borough Clerk, who shall present it to the Borough Council. Every such application shall thereupon be referred by the Borough Council to the Police Committee for consideration and report.

B. No person shall be appointed Sergeant of Police, Lieutenant of Police or police officer unless he/she shall first make written application to the Police Chief for such appointment. Every such application shall be in the form prescribed by the Police Chief, shall be signed and sworn to by the applicant and shall be submitted to the Police Chief. Every such application shall thereupon be referred to the Police Committee for consideration and report.

§ 26-11 Physical examination required.

[Amended 4-12-1979 by Ord. No. 2-79; 4-20-2021 by Ord. No. O-2021-03]

A. Every person who shall have made due application to be appointed Chief of Police shall, if requested by the Police Committee, undergo a physical examination by a physician for the purpose of determining whether such applicant possesses the physical qualifications hereinbefore specified and shall be examined by the Police Committee to determine whether such applicant possesses the other qualifications hereinbefore required for such appointment. The report of such physical examination shall be delivered to the Police Committee, which shall submit said report and the report of its own examination, together with its recommendation, to the Borough Council prior to its consideration of the making of any such appointment; provided, however, that no person shall be appointed Chief of Police unless such person shall have undergone a physical examination by a physician and the report of such examination shall show that the applicant possesses the required physical qualifications as determined by the Police Committee. Every person who shall have made due application to be appointed Sergeant of Police, Lieutenant of Police or police officer, shall, if requested by the Police Chief, undergo a physical examination by a physician for the purpose of determining whether such applicant possesses the physical qualifications hereinbefore specified and shall be examined by the Police Chief to determine whether such applicant possesses the other qualifications hereinbefore required for such appointment. The report of such physical examination shall be delivered to the Police Chief, which shall submit said report and the report of his own examination, together with its recommendation, to the Police Committee prior to its consideration of the making of any such appointment; provided, however, that no person shall be appointed Sergeant of Police, Lieutenant of Police or police officer, unless such person shall have undergone a physical examination by a physician and the report of such examination shall show that the applicant possesses the required physical qualifications as determined by the Police Committee and Police Chief.

B. Every person who shall have made due application to be appointed Chief of Police shall, if requested by the Police Committee, undergo a psychological examination by a physician or psychologist for the purpose of determining whether such applicant possesses the psychological qualifications hereinbefore specified and shall be examined by the Police Committee to determine whether such applicant possesses the other qualifications hereinbefore required for such appointment. The report of such psychological examination shall be delivered to the Police Committee, which shall submit said report and the report of its own examination, together with its recommendation, to the Borough Council prior to its consideration of the making of any such appointment; provided, however, that no person shall be appointed Chief of Police unless such person shall have undergone a psychological examination by a physician or psychologist and the report of such examination shall show that the applicant possesses the required psychological qualifications as determined by the Police Committee. Every person who shall have made due application to be appointed Sergeant of Police, Lieutenant of Police or police officer, shall, if requested by the Police Chief, undergo a psychological examination by a physician or psychologist for the purpose of determining whether such applicant possesses the psychological qualifications hereinbefore required for such appointment. The report of such psychological examination shall be delivered to the Police Chief, which shall submit said report and the report of its own examination, together with its recommendation, to the Police Committee prior to its consideration of the making of any such appointment; provided, however, that no person shall be appointed Sergeant of Police, Lieutenant of Police or police officer unless such person shall have undergone a psychological examination by a physician or psychologist and the report of such examination shall show that the applicant possesses the required psychological qualifications as determined by the Police Committee.

C. The Police Committee may establish, from time to time, procedures and requirements for physical and/or psychological reexamination of members of the Police Department.

D. Upon complaint of any person, including any member of the Police Department, relating to the conduct of a member of the Police Department (whether or not such conduct was during hours of duty) and after affording opportunity for response hereto by the subject, the Police Committee may require the subject member of the Police Department to undergo physical and/or psychological examination.