Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156, there is hereby
established a mutual aid agreement with all other municipalities in
Atlantic County, New Jersey, who adopt a reciprocal ordinance to provide
mutual police aid in case of emergency. This agreement shall apply
whenever the City of Somers Point may have an emergency within its
boundaries requiring additional police assistance to protect life
and property or to assist in suppressing a riot or disorder and whenever
another municipality in this county who has enacted a reciprocal ordinance
may experience a similar emergency requiring additional police assistance.
The Chief or head of the Police Department of
the City of Somers Point is authorized to request assistance from
the Chief or other head of the Police Department of another municipality
within Atlantic County to provide aid during and after said emergency.
The Chief or head of the Police Department of
Somers Point shall provide assistance to another municipality or municipalities
in Atlantic County, making a valid request to supply such personnel
and equipment as required to the extent possible without endangering
person or property within the City of Somers Point. The members of
the Police Department supplying aid shall have the same powers, authority,
rights and immunities of the members of the police force of the municipality
to which assistance is rendered.
The City of Somers Point shall, upon providing
assistance to another municipality who has enacted a reciprocal mutual
aid ordinance, assume the cost and expense of providing its personnel
and equipment to the requesting municipality, except in such instances
when the requesting municipality receives state or federal aid by
way of reimbursement. In such circumstances the cost incurred shall
be submitted to the community requesting assistance.
Members of the police force of the City of Somers
Point suffering injury, or their legal representatives, if death results,
while rendering assistance in another municipality, shall be entitled
to all such benefits they would have realized if injury or death had
occurred in the performance of normal duties in the City of Somers
Point.