Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156.1, there is hereby established a mutual
aid agreement with the Township of Oxford, County of Warren, State of New
Jersey, which shall become effective upon the adoption by the Township of
Oxford of a reciprocal ordinance to provide mutual police aid in case of emergency.
This agreement shall apply whenever the Township of Washington (hereinafter
referred to as "Township") may have an emergency within its boundaries requiring
additional police assistance to protect life and property and whenever the
Township of Oxford (hereinafter referred to as "Oxford") may experience a
similar emergency.
For purposes of this article, the term "emergency" shall be broadly
defined and shall include situations in which the number of available police
officers in the Township or in Oxford is insufficient to meet the public need
in a particular situation. The Chief or the head of the Township Police Department
and the Oxford Police Department shall jointly prepare written standard operating
procedures (hereinafter referred to as the "SOP") which shall address procedures
for the day-to-day implementation of mutual police aid. A copy of the SOP,
and all amendments and revisions thereto, shall be filed with the Police Departments
and their respective Township Clerks of each municipality and with the police
dispatcher for each municipality and, when applicable, Warren County 911.
The Chief or head of the Police Department of the Township or, in his
or her absence, the highest ranking officer in the chain of command is hereby
authorized to request assistance from the Chief or other head of the Oxford
Police Department to provide aid in accordance with this agreement and the
SOP.
The Township Police Department shall provide assistance to Oxford when
a valid request, in accordance with this agreement and the SOP, to supply
personnel is made to the extent possible without endangering persons or property
within the confines of the Township. The Township specifically reserves the
right to withdraw personnel or equipment if emergent conditions in the Township
so warrant. The decision of the Chief of Police or, in his or her absence,
the highest officer in the chain of command with respect to the extent and
duration of aid to Oxford which can be afforded without endangering persons
or property within the Township shall be binding.
The Township shall assume the cost and expense for providing its personnel
and equipment to Oxford pursuant to this agreement if the duration of aid
is eight man-hours or less or in instances in which the Township receives
state or federal aid by way of reimbursement. In circumstances in which the
duration of aid exceeds eight man-hours or where no state or federal aid is
available, the cost incurred shall be submitted to Oxford for reimbursement.
Members of the police force of the Township suffering injury, or their
legal representatives, if death results, while rendering assistance in Oxford
shall be entitled to all such benefits they would have realized if injury
or death had incurred in the performance of normal duties in the Township,
such benefits to be provided by the Township.
So long as this agreement is in full force and effect, Oxford shall
maintain general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 for
personal injury and $500,000 for property damage and liability insurance for
police enforcement activities in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 and shall
annually provide the Township with certificates of insurance showing said
insurance is in full force and effect.