[Adopted 12-17-2007 by Ord. No. 28-07]
Pre-service criminal history checks will be
required for all applicants for volunteer positions with the Fire
Department and First Aid Squad.
[Amended 5-18-2009 by Ord. No. 09-09]
A. Applicants
18 years of age or older for the volunteer positions set forth above,
who apply for volunteer positions after the effective date of this
article, must consent to a criminal history check to be conducted
through the State Bureau of Investigation. The Township shall cover
the cost of the criminal history check. Such applicants shall fully
complete “Form D” (available at the New Jersey State Police
Internet website, www.njsp.org, or the Police Department) and follow
the instructions for obtaining a criminal history background check,
which includes making an appointment to be fingerprinted by the state
contract vendor. Applicants who fail to obtain a criminal history
background check or otherwise refuse to consent to or cooperate in
securing a criminal history check shall not be considered for appointment.
B. Applicants less than 18 years of age must complete “Form C” available at the New Jersey State Police Internet website, www.njsp.org, or from the Washington Township Police Department and follow the instructions for obtaining a criminal history background check, which includes making an appointment to be fingerprinted by the state contract vendor. The applicant shall pay the fee required by the Division of State Police (which will be refunded by the Township if the applicant is appointed). Upon receipt of the report, the applicant must make a copy available to the Chief of Police, who will evaluate the report in accordance with the criteria set forth in §
9-3. Applicants who fail to submit the required report to the Chief of Police or otherwise refuse to secure a criminal history check shall not be considered for appointment.
The Chief of Police of the Township of Washington
shall receive and review the results of the criminal history checks
for the volunteer positions set forth above. The Chief of Police shall
recommend either approval or disapproval of each applicant for a volunteer
position to the applicable Fire Company's Admissions and Suspensions
Committee or the First Aid Squad's Membership Committee within 30
days. Except in the case of an applicant under the age of 18 years,
the Chief of Police shall provide a written explanation for each recommendation
of disapproval in writing to the applicable Admissions and Suspensions
Committee or Membership Committee and shall forward a copy to the
applicant. For applicants under the age of 18 years, the Chief shall
not provide an explanation for a recommendation of disapproval to
the applicable Admissions and Suspensions Committee or Membership
Committee but shall notify the applicant of the recommendation. When
reviewing a record with one or more convictions, the Chief of Police
shall consider the following:
A. The nature and responsibility of the applicant's prospective
position;
B. The nature and seriousness of the offense;
C. The circumstances under which the offense occurred;
E. The age of the applicant when the offense was committed;
F. Whether the offense was repeated;
G. Social conditions which may have contributed to the
offense; and
H. Any evidence of rehabilitation, including good conduct
in prison or in the community, counseling or psychiatric treatment
received, acquisition of additional academic or vocational education,
successful participation in correctional work-release programs, or
the recommendation of persons who have supervised the applicant.
An applicant 18 years of age or older receiving
a recommendation of disapproval from the Chief of Police may appeal
by submitting a letter explaining the basis for his or her appeal
to the applicable Fire Company's Admissions and Suspensions Committee
or the First Aid Squad's Membership Committee. An applicant less than
18 years of age receiving a recommendation of disapproval from the
Chief of Police may appeal by submitting a letter explaining the basis
for his or her appeal to the Chief of Police. Such an appeal must
be made within 20 days of the applicant's receipt of written notice
of the recommendation of disapproval. If the applicant challenges
the accuracy of the conviction information obtained by the criminal
history check, he or she shall be afforded a reasonable period of
time to attempt to correct the record. If the applicant merely challenges
the propriety of the Chief of Police's recommendation, the applicable
Admissions and Suspensions Committee or Membership Committee, or the
Chief of Police in the case of an applicant less than 18 years of
age, shall promptly review the appeal and shall notify the applicant
within 30 days of its determination. If no action is taken by the
applicable Committee or the Chief within 30 days of such an appeal,
the recommendation of disapproval from the Chief of Police shall be
deemed affirmed.