[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 04-25; 5-29-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-08; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08; 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
There is hereby continued in and for the Township of Vernon a Police Division, as part of the Department of Public Safety, which may consist of a Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police, and such numbers of Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants and patrol officers as may, from time to time, be authorized by further ordinance of the Township Council. When positions are so authorized, the Mayor shall make appointments to the authorized positions. The Police Division, upon adoption of this chapter, shall consist of the following authorized positions: one Chief of Police, one Captain, two Lieutenants, up to six Sergeants and up to 30 patrol officers.
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 04-25; 5-29-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-08; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08]
The Mayor is appointed the Director of Public Safety and is further designated as the appropriate authority as provided by law. The appropriate authority shall be responsible for the overall performance of the Police Division and shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the government of the Police Division and for the discipline of its members as set forth in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-118.
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 04-25]
The Police Chief shall be the head of the police force and shall be directly responsible to the appropriate authority for the efficiency and routine day-to-day operations of the police force. The Police Chief shall, pursuant to the rules and regulations established by the appropriate authority:
A. 
Administer and enforce rules and regulations and special emergency directives for the disposition and discipline of the force and its officers and personnel.
B. 
Have, exercise and discharge the functions, powers and duties of force.
C. 
Prescribe the duties and assignments of all subordinates and other personnel.
D. 
Delegate such authority as deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the force to be exercised under the direction and supervision of the Chief.
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 04-25]
The Police Division and the members thereof shall preserve the peace, protect life and property and prevent crime by the exercise of all of the powers, functions and duties which may be prescribed by law for a municipal police force generally or by any provision of any lawfully adopted ordinance of the Township requiring said enforcement, including but not limited to the administration and enforcement, regulation, direction, control, restriction, and movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and use of the streets by vehicles and persons in the Township or as otherwise provided by law. The members of the Police Division shall have the power to serve and execute all process issuing from the Municipal Court of Vernon or such other process as permitted by law.
A. 
To be eligible for appointment as a probationary patrolman, the applicant must have the following qualifications:
(1) 
Be a citizen of the United States.
(2) 
Be of good moral character.
(3) 
Be able to read and write the English language intelligently.
(4) 
Be not less than 18 years of age nor more than 35 years of age at the announced closing date for filing applications for the position or as otherwise approved by the New Jersey Police and Fireman Retirement System.
[Amended 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
(5) 
Persons having served in the active military service of the United States during time of war and conflict as defined in N.J.S.A. 43:16A-11.7 can for the purpose of meeting the maximum age requirement, as allowed by the New Jersey Police and Fireman Retirement System, may reduce their actual age by the stipulated period of such military service. Should this reduced age meet the age maximum in effect, the applicant will be considered as having met the age maximum for enrollment. The period of time to be deducted from an individual's age is limited to actual time served during the war or conflict. Earlier or later periods of military service cannot be used to reduce individuals' ages so as to enable them to meet any maximum age limits. Any active military service terminating in dishonorable discharge is not creditable.
[Added 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 21-30[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also provided for the redesignation of former Subsection A(5) and (6) as Subsection A(7) and (8).
(6) 
An applicant shall also be permitted to reduce their actual age in order to meet the maximum age requirement of 35 years if, in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-127.1, they have previous service as a former state trooper, sheriff's officer or deputy, or county or municipal police officer. Prior experience in federal law enforcement agencies or in law enforcement agencies of other states that would meet the requirements of police officer in New Jersey would also qualify for the purpose of reducing the applicant's age. Age reductions may also be granted for persons who have prior service with the Delaware River Port Authority Police, Amtrak or South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) police departments. No person may be appointed over the age of 45 except for those who were previously involuntarily terminated from their former law enforcement officer employment.
[Added 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 21-30]
(7) 
Be in good health, sound in mind and body.
(8) 
Exhibit, prior to appointment, a certificate from the Township Physician that the applicant is physically capable of performing the duties which will be required as a probationary patrolman[2].
[Amended 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
[2]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection A(7), which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 10-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-23.
B. 
Except as outlined in § 94-5C, probationary patrolmen shall be appointed on the basis of merit and as the result of a competitive examination that fairly tests and determines the qualifications, fitness and ability of the applicant to perform the duties of the position to which they seek appointment. Preference shall be given to those applicants who are residents of the Township of Vernon at the time they file for the examination for appointment to the Police Department as allowed by N.J.S.A. 40A:14-123.1a. The aforesaid examination shall be conducted at such time and in such manner as the Mayor shall determine.
[Amended 12-13-1999 by Ord. No. 99-29; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08; 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03; 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 21-30]
C. 
In accordance with N.J.S.A. 11A:4-1.3 and in the sole discretion of the appointing authority, probationary patrolmen may also be appointed without taking a competitive examination if they have successfully completed a full Basic Course for Police Officers training course at a school approved and authorized by the New Jersey Police Training Commission.
[Amended 9-13-2021 by Ord. No. 21-30; amended 4-24-2023 by Ord. No. 23-13]
No person shall be eligible as a patrolman without having first been a probationary patrolman for at least one year.
Promotion in the Division of Police shall be made in accordance with the Civil Service Act, N.J.S.A. 11A:1-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 4A:1-1.1.
[Amended 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08; 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
A. 
Captain shall have the powers vested in them by law, subject to such rules and regulations and orders as may, from time to time, be established in writing by the Mayor.
B. 
Captain shall promptly report to the internal affairs officer any and all infractions of rules, orders and regulations, or any unfitness for the performance of duties, and submit to the Chief of Police in writing a report containing such information.
[Amended 9-13-2004 by Ord. No. 04-25]
Except as otherwise provided by law, no permanent member or officer of the police force shall be removed from office, employment or position for political reasons or for any cause other than incapacity, misconduct, or disobedience of rules and regulations established for the government of the Police Division and force, nor shall any member or officer be suspended, removed, fined or reduced in rank from or in office, employment, or position therein except for just cause and only pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-147 et seq.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 94-10, Annual physical examinations, as amended, was repealed 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03.
[Amended 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
A. 
Any member of the Division of Police who shall be unable to report for duty by reason of any injury or incapacitating illness shall immediately report that fact to the immediate superior officer who, upon receiving any such report, shall notify the Chief of Police via the chain of command.
B. 
Procedures for handling injuries or incapacitating illnesses of an employee shall be guided by the Police Division's Rules and Regulations, policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and the Township employee handbook.
[Amended 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
Any member of the Division who shall sustain any injury or become ill while on duty shall immediately report such fact to the immediate superior officer or any command officer.
A. 
The Mayor shall, from time to time, make rules and regulations concerning the conduct and duties of the officers and members of the Division, the kinds of uniforms and insignia to be worn by them and concerning such other matters as may be necessary for the proper regulation of the Division of Police.
[Amended 5-29-2014 by Ord. No. 2014-08; 4-27-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-08]
B. 
The rules and regulations shall be issued in writing and shall have the same force and effect as though included in this chapter.
C. 
The rules and regulations, when promulgated, shall become binding upon each member of the Division of Police.
D. 
Every member of the Division shall be familiar with the rules and regulations of the Division of Police and with the various ordinances of the Township.
A. 
The members of the Division of Police shall receive for their respective services such salaries as may, from time to time, be established by ordinance or resolution.
[Amended 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
B. 
Members of the Division shall be entitled to such annual vacations, with pay, as may, from time to time, be established by the Council.
[Amended 1-28-2019 by Ord. No. 19-03]
Members of the Division of Police shall be required to appear in court, as required by rule or regulation, or as directed.