[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Lower
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted by Ord. No. 92-22 (Sec. 2A-17 of the 1975 Code)]
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-26, N.J.S.A. 40A:14-156.1 et seq. and N.J.S.A.
40A:14-146.8 et seq., there is hereby established a mutual aid agreement with
all other municipalities in Cape May County, New Jersey, who adopt a reciprocal
ordinance to provide mutual police or fire aid in case of emergency. This
agreement shall apply whenever the Township of Lower may have an emergency
within its boundaries requiring additional police or fire 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.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.10, a special law enforcement officer
under the supervision and direction of a full-time Chief of Police is hereby
authorized to perform his duties in another municipality in Cape May County
who has enacted a reciprocal ordinance to provide mutual police or fire aid
in case of emergency.[1]
The Chief of the Police Department or Chief of the Fire Department is
authorized to request assistance from their respective counterpart who is
the chief in another municipality within Cape May County to provide aid during
and after any emergency.
The Chief of the Police Department or Chief of the Fire Department shall
provide assistance to another municipality or municipalities in Cape May County,
making a valid request to supply such personnel and equipment as required
to the extent possible without endangering person or property within the Township
of Lower. The members of the Police Department or Fire Department supplying
aid shall have the same powers, authority, rights and immunities of the members
of the police force or fire department of the municipality to which assistance
is rendered.
The Township of Lower 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 or fire departments of Lower Township 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 Township of Lower.
