[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.
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.
[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.
[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.