[Adopted 3-20-2001 by Ord. No. 2001-08]
A.Â
Any person or entity desiring to retain the services
of police officers of the Township of Stafford for off-duty police-related
activities shall be required to enter into a contract with the Township
of Stafford. 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 Stafford and
fees for the use of Township-owned equipment. Entities utilizing off-duty
police officers shall be required to submit and post moneys in advance
representing payment for 30 days worth of police services. 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 article for payment for
the police services immediately upon notice from the Township. The
Township Administrator is hereby empowered to execute a contract for
off-duty police-related activities on behalf of the Township in accordance
with this article.
B.Â
The Stafford Township Chief of Police or his designee
shall do scheduling of any and all off-duty employment by Stafford
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 off-duty police-related activities. The Chief
of Police further has the authority to determine the appropriateness
of any assignment and, if the Chief of Police does not believe the
assignment is appropriate for the Stafford Township Police Department,
the Chief has the authority to deny the request for use of off-duty
police officers.
C.Â
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 Stafford Township police
officers during the off-duty hours. All recordkeeping with respect
to the amount to be billed and collected will be the responsibility
of the Chief Financial Officer and her staff.
D.Â
All persons or entities shall be required to make
all payments for off-duty assignments payable to the Township of Stafford
to the Chief Financial Officer of the Township of Stafford. The rate
of payment for officers shall be established on an annual basis by
resolution in January of each year based on the charges for these
services. The Township may establish different rates for police services
provided to other public entities and nonprofit entities such as school
districts or local churches. The rates charged by the Township shall
include the hourly rate paid to the police officer based on either
time and a half or double time, the officer's longevity, the Township's
contribution toward FICA, and 15% overhead to cover additional costs
incurred by the Township. There will be one composite rate for private
entities based on time and a half and one rate for double time for
private entities. There will also be a composite rate established
for public and nonprofit entities based on time and a half and double
time. The determination of whether time and a half or double time
rates will be charged to the entity will be made based on whether
the officer or officers providing the off-duty services are entitled
to payment of either time and a half or double time from the Township
of Stafford.
E.Â
The Township Administrator shall be authorized to
establish written rules and regulations governing the utilization
of Stafford Township police officers during off-duty hours by entities
other than the Township.
F.Â
Each person or entity who shall employ off-duty police
officers pursuant to this section shall be responsible for maintaining
his/her or its own insurance coverage. Said insurance coverage shall
include but not be limited to general liability and automobile liability
and shall name the Township of Stafford as an additional insured.
In addition, such policy shall provide for a minimum coverage of $1,000,000
for any one claim or $2,000,000 for any aggregate claims. Proof of
said insurance coverage shall be provided to the Township of Stafford
prior to the assignment of any off-duty police officers to said person
or entity. The person or entity shall provide for the aforementioned
for any and all officers, vehicles and/or equipment that is utilized
by the off-duty 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
the Ocean County Joint Insurance Fund.
G.Â
The Chief of Police or his or her designee shall have
the authority to order any police officer engaged in off-duty assignments
within the Township of Stafford to respond to an emergency situation
within the Township of Stafford. The Chief of Police or his or her
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
the citizens of the Township of Stafford. In the event that a police
officer is assigned to an emergency situation, the Police Chief or
his or her 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 an off-duty 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 Stafford until such time as said
police officer and/or equipment returns to the assignment with the
off-duty employer.
H.Â
Any person or entity requesting the services of off-duty
police officers shall execute an agreement to indemnify and hold harmless
the Township of Stafford for any and all claims and damages which
may arise from the off-duty police officer's employment by said person
or entity.
