There is hereby created in the Township of Lower the position
of Class 1 and Class 2 special law enforcement officers.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any person appointed pursuant to the Special Law Enforcement
Officers' Act (N.J.S.A. 40A: 14-146.8 et seq.) to temporarily or intermittently
perform duties similar to those regularly performed by the members
of the municipal police force or to provide assistance to a police
force during seasonal periods or in times of emergency.
There shall be two classes of special law enforcement officers
employed by the Township of Lower, pursuant to the Special Law Enforcement
Officers' Act:
A.
Class 1: Officers of this class shall be authorized to perform routine
traffic detail, spectator control and similar duties. Class 1 officers
shall have the power to issue summonses for disorderly persons and
petty disorderly persons offenses, violations of municipal ordinances
and violations of Title 39 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes. The
use of a firearm by an officer of this class shall be strictly prohibited,
and no Class 1 officer shall be assigned any duties which may require
the carrying or use of a firearm.
B.
Class 2: Officers of this class shall be authorized to exercise full
powers and duties similar to those of a permanent regularly appointed
full-time police officer. The use of a firearm by an officer of this
class may be authorized only after the officer has successfully completed
training as prescribed by the Police Training Commission and has been
fully certified.
Each Class 1 and Class 2 special law enforcement officer shall
meet, at a minimum, the following requirements:
A.
He or she must be a resident of the State of New Jersey during his
or her term of appointment.
B.
He or she must be able to read, write and speak the English language
with reasonable proficiency.
C.
He or she must have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
D.
He or she must be sound in body and of good health, which must be
certified by a physician licensed to practice in the State of New
Jersey.
E.
He or she must be of good moral character.
F.
He or she may not have been convicted of any offense involving dishonesty
as would make him or her unfit to perform the duties of his or her
office.
G.
He or she must successfully undergo the same psychological testing
as required of all full-time police officers in the Township of Lower,
except that officers hired for a seasonal period may alternately undertake
a program of psychological testing approved by the Police Training
Commission of the State of New Jersey.
The Township Manager of the Township of Lower shall appoint
each special law enforcement officer. Prior to each appointment, the
Chief of Police must conduct a background investigation in order to
ascertain the eligibility of the applicant and must report his findings,
in writing, to the Township Council and the Township Manager. Fingerprints
must be taken and filed with the State Police and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation.
A.
All special law enforcement officers shall be appointed for terms
not to exceed one year.
B.
Any special officer appointed for a term of four months or more may
only be terminated for cause and after a public hearing.
C.
Any special officer appointed for a term which is less than four
months shall serve at the pleasure of the Township Manager and may
be terminated by him without cause and without a public hearing.
A.
No special law enforcement officer may be employed for more than
20 hours per week by the Township of Lower, except that special law
enforcement officers may be employed by the Township of Lower for
those hours as the Township Council may determine necessary in accordance
with the limits prescribed below:
(1)
Not to exceed 48 hours per week during any seasonal period. A seasonal
period, as defined in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.9(g), means one period of
six consecutive months during the calendar year. It is understood
that the Township of Lower qualifies as a resort municipality as defined
in N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.9(f).
(2)
Without limitation as to hours during periods of emergency.
(3)
In addition to not more than 20 hours per week, including duties
assigned pursuant to provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-146.14, a special
law enforcement officer may be assigned for not more than 20 hours
per week to provide public safety and law enforcement services to
another public entity.
No Class 1 or Class 2 special law enforcement officer appointed
to serve in the Township of Lower may serve in a similar capacity
in any other municipality. No public official with responsibility
for setting law enforcement policy or exercising authority over the
budget of the Police Department or supervision of the Police Department
shall be appointed as a Class 1 or Class 2 special law enforcement
officer.
All Class 1 and Class 2 special law enforcement officers shall
function under the supervision and direction of the Chief of Police
or, in the absence of the Chief, such other chief law enforcement
officer as may function in his place and stead.
Class 1 and Class 2 special law enforcement officers shall be
employed only to assist the regularly employed police officers of
the Township of Lower and may not be employed to replace full-time
regular police officers or in any way diminish the number of full-time
officers employed by the Township of Lower.
Not more than 10 Class 1 and 12 Class 2 special law enforcement
officers may be employed by the Township of Lower at any given time.
